An iconic Huddersfield firm is set to grow again.

David Brown Gears has been forced to cut dozens of jobs over the past five years – shedding about a sixth of its 450 strong workforce.

Now it has revealed plans to employ 15 people as it sets up a new marine unit.

It comes after the company secured a multi-million pound contract to build gears for the next generation of warships.

David Brown factory, Crosland Moor, Huddersfield.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon visited the firm last year to see how it would manufacture parts for the Royal Navy’s fleet.

The frigates are being built on the Clyde with firms throughout the UK making parts for them.

During his visit in March last year, Mr Fallon said: “David Brown is a very important company for British defence.

“They are unrivalled in Britain with their nearest rivals in Germany and America and they’re creating jobs.”

Plans for a new engineering centre at the firm’s Lockwood Park headquarters have been submitted to Kirklees Council planners.

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They show the new facility will be built on the footprint of a demolished warehouse within the grounds of the 150-year-old company.

It will be an open plan level ground floor assembly facility with two indoor cranes for the erection of industrial machinery.

The firms says the development will have no effect on surrounding properties as it remains entirely within the confines of the site.

Security to the building will be high to prevent unauthorised access to the top secret military designs.

David Brown commenced business in 1860 as a pattern maker for cast gears.

In 1902 it moved to Park Works where it has remained ever since.

The Examiner contacted the firm but no one was available to comment on the proposal.