Housing scheme to ‘safeguard’ 170 jobs
PLANS have been unveiled for a large housing development ‘in a bid to safeguard’ 170 local jobs.
Manufacturing company Farrel Ltd, based in Castleton, has applied to the council to demolish underused industrial buildings, relocate parking facilities and redevelop unused land off Newchurch Street to create up to 100 family homes.
The rubber and plastics firm has operated on the site for more than 100 years and, despite spending millions of pounds in recent years on machinery and technology, company bosses say there is an ‘immediate pressing need for a facility which better meets the operational requirements of the business and its workers’.
Farrel say they need to ‘release value from their surplus land’ and use the funding generated from the housing development towards the ‘substantial costs’ of the proposed improvement works to their existing property.
The scheme will ‘directly assist in safeguarding the ongoing and future vitality of the business’ and help retain their 170 local employees.
A planning statement said: “Farrel have limited options to improve conditions at the site which either involve investing in their existing site or finding an alternative site which better suits their
operational needs.
“There are substantial incentives for Farrel to relocate to low cost markets, yet at the same time Castleton offers a skilled and local workforce and a relocation would involve substantial costs.
The statement added: “In order to remain at the Rochdale site and maintain their competitive position, Farrel must invest in their existing facilities to make better use of the available floorspace so that the business can be organised more effectively and efficiently.
“The applicant therefore proposes to strip away and consolidate underperforming assets, release value from demolishing unusable space, repair and refurbish parts of the building which can be viability retained and to invest in new purpose built office accommodation, façade enhancements and parking provision improvements.
“Farrel must invest in their existing premises to stay in Rochdale and the proposed works to the factory site will result in substantial costs.
“It needs to raise funds to finance undertaking the works and the site must make a significant contribution towards funding the works.
“Farrel therefore seek a higher value alternative use of the land in the form of housing which will only part finance the upgrades with the remainder of the funds being put forward by the business.
“If a large majority of the funds are not raised through the sale of the land, uncertainty is raised over the delivery of the works to the existing premises.
“Approval of this application will therefore be essential to secure funds to deliver the works proposed through the concurrent detailed application.
“In turn, this will directly assist in safeguarding the ongoing and future vitality of the business and provide Farrel with the opportunity to remain in their current location in Castleton and retain their 170 local employees.”
The 2.11 hectare site, close to Castleton primary school, will include a variety of new family homes, 1,800 sqm of public open space and will create around nine permanent construction jobs.
The applicant says a consultation has been held with 479 local residents and businesses and a meeting was held in February with ward councillors and Castleton primary bosses.
Planning documents say there are a ‘range of measures to alleviate identified parking issues’ at the Newchurch Street and Hillcrest Road junction at school drop off and pick up times.
It added: “Ward councillors and the school expressed their support for the development proposed through this application and appreciated the importance of the works to safeguard Farrel’s operations and maintain the existing workforce.”
If approved, the housing development could generate an extra £165,000 for the authority in council tax and an extra £2m in household spending in the local area.