International aerospace Tooling Manufacturer Kaman is in advanced negotiations to sign up as the flagship tenant on Barnfield Construction’s new 37-acre advanced engineering park in Burnley – which will in turn provide a major boost to the town’s economy.
Another prospective tenant is also being lined up to take space on the former Michelin site which is being transformed into an aerospace supply chain “village” bringing cutting edge technology firms together.
Kaman Tooling Ltd is part of the Kaman Corporation, a multi-national Aerospace and Industrial Distribution business headquartered in the US and employing a worldwide workforce of over 5,000.
After completing the purchase of the former Michelin Site from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Barnfield is now back on the site where it built the 30,000 sqft, £4 million Lancashire Digital Technology Centre for Lancashire County Developments Limited in 2002.
Barnfield has started work completely refurbishing the existing structure of the main building that currently dominates the park to provide 4,000 sqft of offices and doubling the existing production capacity with a 60,000 sqft new production facility which following the signing of final documents would be occupied by Kaman Tooling Limited.
The whole site has the capacity to accommodate up to 400,000 sqft of commercial and industrial space and there has been interest in over half of this space by local businesses.
Tim Webber, Managing Director & Chairman of The Barnfield Group commented: “We are delighted that after just 3 months of marketing the site we have received 3 strong leads with Kaman Tooling Limited set to be the flagship tenants.
"To actually be delivering successful business parks here and at our AMS Technology Business Park really shows businesses in and around Burnley have a positive and proactive attitude when it comes to development and this park is proof that Burnley is a town driving forward the economy of Aerospace & Engineering.”
Guy Thomas, Managing Director of Kaman UK said: “Our current investment and growth plan has meant that our Tooling business has outgrown its existing manufacturing footprint. We continue to negotiate a move to the Michelin site where the new facility would allow us to invest in machinery, provide security for our existing workforce and create additional jobs. Working with Barnfield provides us with a great opportunity to design a purpose built state of the art facility that would enable us to meet all of our future business needs.”
Deborah McLaughlin – HCA Executive Director for the North West commented: “HCA knew when we took over the former Michelin site in September 2011 that it was a fantastic employment opportunity that had been stalled for far too long.
“It is testimony to the subsequent hard work of our local team and Burnley Borough Council, that, in reaching this important agreement with the Barnfield Group, we have secured a private partner to step up the achievement of the site’s great potential. I look forward to the site now providing vital local jobs for many years to come.”
Leader of Burnley Council Julie Cooper said: “Boosting economic development, creating high quality jobs and improving skills are the council's top priorities. This site represented a major opportunity and I have made it a priority, working with partners to unlock its potential. Kaman being so close to hopefully moving their expanded tooling operation onto the site is fantastic news. It is an excellent company with great prospects for future growth."
Council chief executive Steve Rumbelow said: "We have worked closely with the HCA to get this development under way they have been great partners and acted with a real purpose. It is also another site that is being supported by the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership through The Growing Places Fund and the installation of High Speed Broadband."
Assuming successful negotiations of the contract the new Kaman Tooling production facility could be completed before the end of 2013.
The aerospace “park” will create a logistics hub, attracting manufacturing “supply chain” businesses, generating £7 million of private sector investment, and creating new high-tech jobs.
Barnfield also has brand new industrial space available at its AMS Technology Park on Farrington Road Industrial Estate, Burnley. Contact Tracy Clavell-Bate on 01282 442300 for more details on letting or purchasing the space.
