PLANS for a new factory to house one of Huddersfield’s foremost engineering firms will come before councillors this week.

Sellers Engineers Ltd wants to build a 48,000sq ft factory and offices on land at Trident Business Park, off Leeds Road, Deighton.

The company plans to move to the new premises from its present site at Chapel Hill – making way for the Waterfront Quarter development.

The application comes before Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Planning Subcommittee on Thursday – with a recommendation that members approve the proposal subject to delegation to officers to attach any conditions.

The application calls for the factory and integral two-storey offices to be built on land between Instore’s headquarters and distribution centre and the Huddersfield Audi car dealership.

There would also be parking for up to 90 vehicles.

Sellers chairman David Armitage said it was hoped that the new building would be ready for fitting-out by January next year, with the company and its 75 employees moving in during March.

He said: “A purpose-built factory would enable us improve efficiency and reduce costs.

“At Chapel Hill, we have 90,000sq ft and we are spread out all over the site.

“This is a great opportunity for an engineering firm to move into new premises and make a statement about manufacturing in Huddersfield.”

Mr Armitage said the move would allow the textile engineer to offer a design-and-build service and bring all manufacturing processes in-house.

He said trading was tough in the face of competition from European rivals, but said Sellers was winning orders in overseas markets, including Brazil, the Middle East, China and South Africa.

A report to Thursday’s planning meeting said the site proposed for Sellers’ new premises was acceptable under planning policy.

It said the site had previously received approval on an application to extend the Instore building, although that scheme was never taken up.

Sellers’ current premises at Chapel Hill form part of the £150m Waterfront Quarter development for a triangle of land between Chapel Hill, Manchester Road and the river Colne.

Work on a £73m campus for Kirklees College is already under way – but the scheme also calls for new offices, flats and leisure facilities.