Gooch & Housego Regulatory News (GHH)

24 Jan 2006 07:01

Gooch & Housego PLC24 January 2006 For Immediate Release 24 January 2006 Gooch & Housego PLC Gooch & Housego receives full planning permission from South Somerset District Council South Somerset District Council has granted Gooch and Housego PLC Full PlanningPermission for the application to redevelop the former Mill site at DowlishFord, Ilminster. The decision is an important step in the company's project to move the factoryfrom its current restricted facilities in Ilminster town centre. The move willallow expansion and provide with a new purpose-built factory that will enablethe business to meet the ever increasing standards of product an internationalcustomer base is demanding. Meaningful milestone The Dowlish Ford 7.8-acre site will be redeveloped to provide a showcasefacility for employees to be proud of, helping to reinforce Gooch & Housego'sfocus on quality and precision to impress customers. The new site will providevaluable space to grow, which in recent years has restricted growth plans."Re-development costs are in the region of GBP 4m. Although there is no fixedfigure, the plans budget for approximately 5 new jobs per year," FinancialDirector Ian Bayer comments the development. Following the Ilminster Town Council planners, the application is a wellconceived and well designed reuse of a vacant site which will be of economicbenefit to the area. "We are grateful to our architect Peter Smith for bringingthe project successfully to this stage. It is our intention of completing theentire program this year", emphasizes Chief Executive Officer Gareth Jones. New site, new perspective The new site is located within the settlement of Dowlish Ford on the outskirtsof Ilminster. It comprises a mix of industrial and service buildings, associatedservice areas and landscaped features. A pond, surrounded by trees fronts thebuildings which are of varied age and appearance. The last use of the site was as a shoe factory for Clarks Shoe Company. Gooch &Housego has already occupied one of the buildings to undertake part of theirindustrial manufacturing operations. For the most part the developments frontsonto the road, which is an extension of Listers Hill in Ilminster. Front of thebuilding is to be kept as is; the new building and entrance will be hidden fromthe road by the existing frontage. "We wish to take a balanced approach and dowhat we can to protect our local environment and the heritage. The mix of newand old will create an interesting feel and have minimum impact on thesurrounding area. It is our intention to equip the site and buildings with 100%environmentally friendly lighting," explains Marketing Director Andrew Virgin. Gooch & Housego now continues the work with the architect and contractors inpreparing the site for the development and carrying out the relevant floodalleviation, demolition and building works. Ends For further information : Gareth Jones 01460 52271Gooch & Housego PLC Tim Thompson / Nicola Cronk 0207 466 5000Buchanan Communications This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange