Ford’s Warley farewell
Ford’s historic Warley headquarters is to be given over to housing under new company consolidation plans – after 55 years in residence.
Opened by Henry Ford II on 17 February 1964, Warley was chosen three years earlier, when a decision was made to move away from Dagenham. There were two candidates: London’s South Bank and Warley Barracks. The latter was eventually chosen because of its accessibility and parking spaces.
Warley is currently home to around 1600 employees, primarily marketing, sales and service staff and Ford Credit.
Ford spokesperson, Charlotte Ward, said: ‘ The plan is to relocate in late 2019 to the Ford Dunton Engineering and Technical Centre in Laindon, Essex as part of a move to bring together all of the company’s main UK-based office activities.
‘No redundancies are planned.‘ East Coast Retros co-founder, Michael Carpenter, said: ‘As a club with a lot of classic Fords in it, it pains us to see Ford leave Warley after 55 years.
‘We’re relieved that it’s staying in Essex, though – Essex has an affinity with Ford like no other county in England.’