Burberry announced plans to build a new £50 million manufacturing and weaving facility in South Bank, Leeds.
In this context, ‘factility’ means ‘factory.’
The development, which is expected to be open by 2019, will reportedly create over 200 jobs in the area.
Work on the project is due to begin next year. The new facility will replace two existing manufacturing and weaving centres in Castleford and Cross Hills, Yorkshire, with the current employees at those facilities relocating to the new site.
According to Burberry the new centre will be offer more efficiency and sustainability within the production process and boost capacity to produce expanded outerwear categories.
Announcing the landmark project, Burberry Chief Creative and Chief Executive Officer Christopher Bailey said:
“I am delighted to announce that the next chapter of Burberry’s manufacturing story will be right here in Yorkshire. Burberry is a proudly British brand and we are so excited that our plan for a new site in South Bank, Leeds, means that we will continue to produce our most iconic product – the trench coat – in this wonderful part of the country for many years to come.”
Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council said:
“This is wonderful news for Leeds which has its own rich heritage of cloth making and weaving. Burberry is a truly global British brand and it is an honour that the trench coat, an icon that is sought after around the world, will be made in Leeds’ South Bank. We welcome this significant investment in Leeds and are proud that Yorkshire will continue to be the manufacturing home of this great British business, bringing jobs, training and regeneration to the area.”
