A family-owned business which makes parts for diggers and earth movers is planning a major expansion worth up to £30m over the next 10 years.

Eastern Daily Press: MD of Eastern Attachments in Attleborough, Philip Leslie, outside the head office. The company is moving to larger purpose built premises next year.MD of Eastern Attachments in Attleborough, Philip Leslie, outside the head office. The company is moving to larger purpose built premises next year. (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2016)

Eastern Attachments wants to develop a 13-acre site on the outskirts in London Road, Attleborough, which would see the firm's workforce swell from 37 to about 300.

Managing director Philip Leslie said the firm, now based in Maurice Gaymer Road, was running at capacity. He said: 'There is talk of manufacturing being in decline and moving out of the country, but we are a bit of a exception to the rule. We export our products all around the world including to India and China.'

Eastern Attachments was launched in 1996 by Mr Leslie and his three brothers, who all still work at the firm. Its current turnover is £6m.

Mr Leslie said the firm supplied 90% of the British market for its products, and its clients included JCB, the world's third-largest construction equipment manufacturer.

He added the development would proceed in four phases over 10 years. Developing the first-phase buildings on land belonging to Norfolk County Council would cost £5m, a figure which would rise to £17m over the whole project. He said manufacturing equipment purchases and other costs would push the total cost of the project to £30m.

'The first phase alone will allow us to have up to three times the capacity and more than double our workforce,' he added. He said the development would include a 'technology centre', which would be used for training and joint work on projects with other manufacturing firms.

County council leader Cliff Jordan said: 'This is potentially great news for an innovative Norfolk-based company which clearly needs room to grow. It will also give a real boost to the local economy, keeping jobs in Norfolk and potentially helping new ones to be created. We want to get Norfolk moving, and this is a great example of that happening.'

The county council's policy and resources committee is due to discuss the plan on Tuesday and it will also require permission from Breckland District Council.

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