Welsh Government acts to secure former Hotpoint site for future employment use
14 Apr 2014 04:20 PM
The Welsh Government
plans to breathe new life into the former Hotpoint factory in Bodelwyddan and
is investing £1.55m to acquire the site and secure its future as an
employment site.
The 25 acre site includes the
354,000 sq ft factory, a loading bay, canteen and a 7 acre HGV trailer
park.
The intention is to redevelop
the site, split the main factory into two units of approximately 150,000 sq ft,
suitable for inward investment and business expansion projects. The trailer
park has the potential to be developed for smaller industrial
units.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart
said:
“This is an important
acquisition as it secures the site for future employment uses that can create
jobs for local people. While there is little demand for very large factories in
this area there is interest in the market for smaller
properties.
“Our over riding aim is to
help businesses grow, create jobs and attract new investment into the area. The
site has the potential to provide accommodation for businesses moving into the
region as well as expansion projects for local
companies.”
The Hotpoint factory was built
in the early 1980s and at its peak in 2004 employed 750 people. The plant
closed in 2009 with the loss of 300 jobs. Despite being on the market for
several years it has remained empty since, apart from temporary
occupation by Mainetti when its Flintshire premises were destroyed by
fire.
Welsh Government is aware that
when the factory closed Indesit, the owner of Hotpoint, sought to implement an
innovative social plan to reduce the impact which was targeted at finding
positive solutions for the workforce. In line with that approach Indesit
have now agreed the sale to Welsh Government on terms that compare favourably
to the North Wales market , as the company is keen to facilitate new job
creation on the site.