After unprecedented growth and increased global demand, the UK’s largest stove and fireplace manufacturer Stovax & Gazco will be moving into a brand new £20 million factory when it opens this summer.
The company currently exports its British-made appliances to over 25 countries and will be moving more than 300 people into their new state of the art, purpose-built facility at Skypark, Exeter.
Spanning over 100 acres, Skypark has been dubbed Exeter’s new generation of Business Park, combining industrial, office, and distribution space all in one place, with plans for it to become the most significant Business Park in the South West.
Located near Exeter Airport and only 1.5 miles away from their current location, the new premises will house brand-new offices and state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities, allowing the company to continue to investing in their world-leading Research & Development functions, and offering scope for improvements to their logistics, communications, and productivity.
Alistair Compton, managing director at Stovax & Gazco, said:
“This is more than just a new building for us. We’ve outgrown our current premises scattered across Sowton, and this move crucially allows us a premium, state-of-the-art, sustainable space to facilitate the expansion of our manufacturing and business operations under one roof.”
During the next 20 years, Skypark is predicted to create up to 6,500 new jobs with a significant positive impact on the economy.
Attending the site to view the progress, Councillor Rufus Gilbert of Devon County Council commented:
“What a pleasure it was to join Stovax at this monumental day celebrating another success story, not only for Stovax & Gazco but Devon and Skypark. I was taken aback by the sheer scale of this enormous building rising out of the ground. It has been a great privilege for Devon County Council to have played such a part in making it happen.”
The new building has been designed to the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard, putting the proposed facility in the top 10% of UK non-domestic buildings in terms of sustainability performance. BREEAM rated developments are more sustainable environments that enhance the wellbeing of the people who work in them.
Incorporating the latest technology, insulation, and heat recovery and cooling systems, the new environmentally-considered building also allows reduces commercial energy usage and carbon footprint.
The company say relocating to Skypark will allow them to continue their history of growth, and to build upon their position as a leading manufacturer of wood burning, gas and electric stoves and fires.
