Medical giant Smith & Nephew is to relocate its Hull operations down the A63 to Melton in an £80 million investment.
The global giant, founded in the city more than 150 years ago, is to build a new “world-class” research and development and manufacturing facility for its advanced wound management business at the 200-acre business park.
Simon Fraser, president of advanced wound management at Smith & Nephew, said: “This major investment demonstrates our commitment to the UK and to building our leadership in advanced wound management. Our vision is for a world-class working environment that encourages innovation and collaboration to deliver next-generation products that improve the standard of care for the NHS and customers around the world.
Read more: Buyer of Novartis Grimsby outlines what could be next for 'world-class' pharmaceutical complex
“Smith & Nephew was founded in Hull in 1856 and we are proud to make this major investment in the region for future generations."
Subject to planning approval, the new facility will be at Melton West business park, eight miles from the prominent site by Daltry Street flyover,where around 800 are employed.
It will replace the location, occupied for more than 100 years.
The team said the new facility will benefit from advanced laboratories better able to support the development of new technologies to “satisfy unmet clinical needs”, adding it will “ensure that the UK remains one of the world's leading wound care R&D locations”.
Manufacturing will focus on the production of high-technology products, supporting the fast and efficient launches and manufacturing complex materials used across the portfolio.
Sales of £8 billion in the first decade of operations are anticipated, with the development to be supported with public funds.
Lord Grimstone, Minister for Investment, said: “We are committed to harnessing our skilled workforce and existing strengths in research and development to continue to attract large scale manufacturing and the economic opportunities that come with them. Today’s announcement from Smith & Nephew is a major vote of confidence in our thriving life sciences sector, cementing the UK’s status as a global science superpower and helping us to level up economic growth across the country.”
Melton West Business Park is described as the closest available suitable site to the current Hull facility, and one of Yorkshire and the Humber’s premier locations for investment and job creation.
Dominic Gibbons, managing director of Hull-based Wykeland Group, owner and developer of Melton West, said: “We are delighted the strategic, long-term investments we have made in the infrastructure at Melton West Business Park have enabled Smith & Nephew to stay within the region and make such a huge investment in a state-of-the-art new facility.
“Smith & Nephew is one of the region’s leading employers, with a proud local history and heritage. This investment will open an exciting new chapter in that story.”
The new site is expected to open in 2024. The company had worked with Hull City Council but said it was “unable to find an appropriately sized and deliverable site within the city”.
It has committed to working with officers and other stakeholders on future options for the facility.
The Smith & Nephew facility will be the latest major development at the expanding Melton site, which features more than one million sq ft of completed warehouse, distribution, manufacturing and office space.
In December last year Wykeland secured planning permission for a £170m retail logistics fulfilment centre. This centre will have a footprint of 558,000 sq ft and create 1,300 to 1,500 permanent jobs, additional seasonal and indirect employment, and further jobs during the construction phase.
Last year Amazon opened a 125,000 sq ft last mile delivery centre on an adjacent site and a new command and control facility for Humberside Police has recently been handed over and is due to be operational later this year.
Other leading businesses at Melton West include Heron Foods, which has its national distribution centre and store support facility on site; generator manufacturer Allam Marine; shower maker Kohler Mira; and Needlers, a leading supplier of safety and hygiene products to the food manufacturing industry.
Keep up-to-date with all the latest developments - follow BusinessLive Humber on Twitter and LinkedIn.
