ENGINEERING firm David Brown has formally submitted detailed plans for a new manufacturing complex in Mirfield.

Tabling its application with Kirklees Council planners, the company insisted that getting the go-ahead for its scheme was “central to David Brown’s future growth being realised”.

The plan calls for two state-of-the-art modern buildings set in landscaped grounds – a global centre of excellence for gear manufacture and a wind innovation centre – as well as offices for support functions such as sales, communications, legal, finance and personnel.

More than 270 of the firm’s 450 staff will be based at Mirfield with the rest based at David Brown’s Lockwood premises, where the company has been based for more than 100 years.

The site at Mirfield 25, Leeds Road, already has planning consent for industrial use.

More than 170 people attended a public exhibition staffed by representatives of David Brown and developer First Industrial. Exhibition boards have also been displayed at Mirfield Library and Roberttown Church.

The company claims that feedback from the public gathered at the event and via dedicated email address mirfield@davidbrown.com has been “on the whole very supportive”.

Construction on the 10-acre site is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2012 and is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2013.