Wren Kitchens is planning to invest more than £120 million in a new manufacturing facility at its Barton-upon-Humber headquarters, creating 1,200 new jobs.
The North Lincolnshire-based kitchen manufacturer and retailer is submitting a planning application for a new 910,000sq ft manufacturing plant to be built behind its existing 180-acre site in Barton on Humber.
The plan, if approved, will create 1,200 new jobs, in addition to the 1,500 people already employed on the site. The new plant will be the company’s fourth manufacturing facility in the Humber region and is needed, it said, to keep up with future expansion plans. It currently has 78 showrooms nationwide.
Wren currently employs 1,000 people at its existing production sites in Scunthorpe, Howden and Hull.
Commenting on the expansion, Wren Kitchens managing director Mark Pullan said: “This project will be the largest single investment in Wren’s history and, having considered different locations both across the UK and abroad, we believe that developing the existing site in Barton-upon-Humber provides us with the best solution.
“The new factory demonstrates our commitment to manufacturing in the UK and particularly the Humber region. We believe that continual reinvestment in our business is essential to maintaining our current growth rate and subject to receiving planning approval, the project will be funded internally.”
Wren, which is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary, said this new development will also create new jobs in IT, engineering, customer service and product development “to keep pace with growing customer demands”.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “It’s a fantastic vote of confidence for the business and for North Lincolnshire that Wren Kitchens is looking to expand its operations in Barton.
“The move could see more highly skilled jobs brought to our area, and such large private investments often prove to be a catalyst for other, further investments in the surrounding areas.”
Wren will be holding a public event to discuss its plans from 4pm to 8pm on Tuesday, June 11, at Baysgarth Scoool in Barton-upon-Humber.