Areva to take on 100 workers
Stafford's largest employer plans to take on up to 100 new workers with the redevelopment of its main works.
Areva T & D's site at St Leonard's Avenue and Fairway will become a £55million science park in a scheme which is to be submitted to Stafford Borough Council this month. Work could begin before the end of this year if planning permission is given.
Ahead of the application being lodged, developers St Modwen, who have owned the site since 2002, have been consulting with the local community on the proposals, with open forums at Areva's Sports and Social Club yesterday and today.
Areva T & D finance director Maurice Williams said the 330,000sqft of new buildings, including offices, laboratories and workshops, would see the number of people employed on the 74-acre site, which dates from 1962 when it was built for GEC, increase from 1,100 to 1,300. About 100 are transferring from the company's other site at Lichfield Road because the transformer factory site has no space for expansion.
The new research and development building planned at St Leonard's Avenue will increase the number employed in research and development from 40 to 80.
A new test building will also be built to replace the existing facility in Glover Street, Stafford.
Mr Williams said an area in the centre of the site was being left empty to allow for future expansion, with another 200 staff expected to be recruited in the long term.
"The power generation industry is one that is not affected by the economic downturn. We have been increasing our spending on development by 50 per cent a year since we acquired the Stafford operation in 2004," he said.
"By the time this development is completed, the economic climate will have improved, and our industry has a long-term horizon. Investment is being done for 20 to 25 years down the line." He said the existing buildings did not meet the company's needs.
Factory space had been adapted for highly skilled engineers but they really needed purpose-built accommodation.
The phased redevelopment would take two-and-a-half years to complete.
St Modwen senior development surveyor Ian Romano said the scheme was designed around the needs of Areva T&D.
The company will lease the completed buildings on long-term leases.
There will also be a multi-million investment in new equipment for the new buildings.
The scheme also includes refurbishing the Areva Sports and Social Club.
