Howorth Air Technology is relocating its HQ from Victoria Works on Lorne Street in Farnworth to a new 33,000 sq ft two-storey detached unit at Logistics North on Lomax Way in Bolton.
The unit provides extensive shop floor space, which will accommodate Howorth’s pharma assembly operations, in addition to two floors of offices housing medical and pharmaceutical operations alongside the finance, HR, IT, technical, purchasing, marketing and health and safety teams.
Howorth’s Lorne Street site, which has been the company’s base for almost 150 years, has been acquired by Bolton-based Handrail Creations and will remain a manufacturing facility.
Adam Ainslie, chief operating officer of Howorth, said: “When looking at potential options, we had some specific criteria we wished to meet. We wanted to remain within the Bolton area to minimise disruption to our loyal workforce. In addition, the premises needed to be built to the highest efficiency standards to meet our net zero ambitions, give us enough floor space and flexibility to satisfy our current and future needs as we look to expand, provide sufficient office space to house a growing workforce and have good transport links.
“The site at Logistics North fulfils all of these requirements and will provide a modern facility at a superb location, making it a great place to work for our team. As the business continues to expand in the UK and overseas, the need for additional space has become more of a priority. Pharma projects are increasing in number and size, and with that comes the requirement for additional assembly areas.
“Our move to Logistics North comes at an exciting time for Howorth as we start to complete another large-scale containment project for a tier one pharmaceutical client. Our new facility will enable us to deliver larger and more complex containment suites in line with client demand. As well as expanding in the UK, we continue to grow our operations in the United States from our base in Charlotte, North Carolina, and we are looking to further develop our pharma operations in Europe.”
Ruth Leighton, industrial and logistics director at JLL, which acted on Howorth’s sale of Victoria Works and its letting at Logistics North, added: “The sale of Howorth’s existing facility and the fast acquisition of its new home underscores the robustness of the North West’s industrial property market, particularly in high-demand areas like Bolton, where mid-box supply is limited.
“Developments such as Logistics North, with prime location, outstanding connectivity and enhanced ESG benefits, not only cater to a company’s operational needs but also their employees’ wellbeing, putting businesses like Howorth in an ideal position to achieve their growth ambitions in an area built for the future.”
