18 November 2019

Norco GRP build at Dorset Innovation Park

Norco GRP build at Dorset Innovation Park

Dorset Innovation Park Enterprise Zone, Wool, welcomes its first land purchase and commercial construction.

Dorset Council is proud to announce the sale of a 2.09 acre (0.85ha) plot at Dorset Innovation Park to Norco GRP, a leading Dorset-based developer of lightweight composite structures and mouldings. The company has now started construction of a new 35,252 ft² (3,275m²) production facility.

 

 

Matt Prosser, Chief Executive, Dorset Council, said “It is fantastic for Dorset to have such a strong, home-grown company moving onto Dorset Innovation Park. It will create highly skilled jobs for our young people who will be able to stay in Dorset and thrive.”  

Jim Stewart, Chair of Dorset LEP, which oversees the strategic development of the Enterprise Zone, welcomed Norco GRP. He says: “We are thrilled that Norco GRP has chosen Dorset Innovation Park to quickly establish and grow. Having such an innovative company expanding at Dorset Innovation Park is really meeting the strategic objectives of Dorset LEP to create an advanced engineering and manufacturing cluster of excellence at the Enterprise Zone”.  

The development is also the first commercial construction approval under the Local Development Order (LDO) developed for the Enterprise Zone. This simplified planning system, together with the assistance from Dorset Council, gave Norco GRP assurance and allowed them to obtain approval for the building within 28 days of application, significantly improving the delivery timetable for the project.

Norco GRP is also using Dorset businesses to enable the construction, including Lionel Gregory Architects and construction contractor Jade-Aden Services Ltd.

Mark Northey, Managing Director of Norco GRP, says: “The Dorset Innovation Park offered us the welcome opportunity to continue to grow our business in Dorset. The site is secure with CPNI perimeter fencing, security gatehouse and 24/7 access, which are requirements from our customers."

“In addition to the creation of skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs and multiple opportunities right across the supply chain, the project will also help raise the profile of Dorset and showcase the strategic nature of the county with its defence manufacturing links."

Norco GRP will join 23 other organisations employing 651 people currently based at Dorset Innovation Park, which targets companies in the marine, defence, energy and cyber security sectors.

ENDS                                                                                                               Date 18/11/2019

Background

Dorset Innovation Park covers 50 hectares of designated employment land. Dorset Innovation Park is owned by Dorset Council with investment from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership.

The purpose of the Dorset Innovation Park Enterprise Zone is to stimulate business growth by becoming a catalyst for enhanced economic growth through the creation of highly skilled jobs, the unlocking of employment land, and the encouragement of investment into the area. 

The Enterprise Zone provides priority sector businesses (advanced engineering and manufacturing, marine, defence, energy and cyber security) with financial incentives in the first five years’ of occupation, if that occupation commences before 31 March 2022, and simplified planning to assist with development. 

For more information please go to the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (Dorset LEP) website: https://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/dorset-innovation-park

Purbeck District Council’s Planning Committee approved the Local Development Order (LDO) 19 December 2018. The LDO enables appropriate development, whilst respecting the local environment.

A true Dorset company, Norco GRP operates from five sites in the county with its HQ at nearby Holton Heath. Norco is already the primary composites supplier for Dorset Innovation Park’s anchor tenant, Atlas Elektronik UK (AEUK), on their SEA Class workboats project for the Royal Navy, and has been supplying Sunseeker International since 1985, it also supplies suspension crew seats to the lifeboat charity RNLI in Poole. This new facility will be purpose built to fulfil their defence and communications contracts.

Norco GRP’s planning application can be found on the Dorset Council Planning website with the application reference LDON/2019/0002

Notes to Editors:

Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership is a business led private and public sector partnership, promoting local economic growth and prosperity. Dorset LEP deliver projects that support and develop infrastructure, housing, skills, enterprise and business growth to achieve long-term economic benefit for all in Dorset. For more information visit the Dorset LEP website http://www.dorsetlep.co.uk/

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