A FLAGSHIP Blackburn company is set to invest more than £1million in two new buildings.

H&T Presspart, a major supplier of precision metal components for the international pharmaceutical industry, is poised to add two buildings to its factory in Philips Road on the Whitebirk Industrial Estate.

The firm proposes to go ahead with its new entrance, offices and improved welfare facilities for its 200 staff later this year after a delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The project was granted planning approval last year.

Now it has put in another application to Blackburn with Darwen Council for a warehouse built around the neighbouring former Tuftex premises it bought in April.

The total investment by its German owners is expected to be in excess of £1million.

H&T Presspart was founded in 1970. In 2002 it was taken over by the Heitkamp and Thumann Group and now has factories in Germany and Spain.

Its managing director Tony Cross said: “The new warehouse will expand the our capacity by up to 50 per cent as we currently use storage off site.

“We are planning to go ahead with new office building which has been delayed by coronavirus later this year.

“The firm is doing very well. This level of investment post-Brexit shows the confidence our German owners have in the Blackburn site.

“This is good for the company and good for Blackburn.”

Cllr Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s growth boss, said: “This is good news from a major employer in the borough.

“Industrially the local economy is powering on. This investment is a sign of that.”

A planning statement with the new application says: “The site was purchased by to expand on-site warehousing facilities.

“The existing use is a vacant warehouse space, with a central courtyard.

“The proposed development is to construct an infill structure extension that covers an existing courtyard area.

“The proposal will provide additional storage space and improved welfare facilities for staff.

“The existing courtyard area within the industrial warehouse will be infilled by the continuation of the existing roof which will be replaced and re-roofed.

“The floor space within the infill extension will be used as additional storage space within the two existing bay warehouses.”

The delayed office project’s planning statement said: “The proposed development will provide new and improved meeting rooms and offices.

“Within this extension there will be a new visitor entrance. The remaining floor space within the extension will be used as office space, freeing up space to improve staff welfare facilities.”