Boat builder plans £30m expansion

Bosses say HQ will stay in Oundle as firm looks to new port

A luxury boat builder employing 380 people has vowed to stay in Oundle despite plans to open a manufacturing centre on the South Coast.

Fairline Yachts has just taken possession of a five acre site at Hythe, off Southampton Water, and will use the new facility to build boats larger than 60 ft.

The company says it is investing £30 million over the next four years creating the centre and in new product development.

The firm says it will continue to build boats smaller than 60 ft at its Oundle headquarters where it currently employs 380 people and where it has been based for 50 years.

Building work is expected to take around nine months to complete and Fairline hopes to launch the new facility and begin boat building on the South Coast late next summer.

Over the next two years Fairline plans to employ 200 people at the new facility with some of its existing staff expected to relocate. However, the company says the majority of employees will be new to Fairline.

Russell Currie, managing director, said: “As the global yachting market evolves, clients are increasingly demanding larger yachts than we’ve been able to create.

“Our new site, to be named Fairline Marine Park, will boast state-of-the-art facilities, giving us room to expand and create bigger boats, whilst making the most of the existing boat building skills in the location.

“By increasing our manufacturing capabilities across Oundle and Southampton, we are future-proofing Fairline Yachts and retaining our commitment of investing in British boat building.”

The site for Fairline Yachts’ new manufacturing facility.