Swaffham's Green Britain Centre to become new headquarters of international business
A former Swaffham environment hub is set to become the new headquarters of a growing international business under a deal announced today.
Flexion Global Limited, trading as Arbortec Forestwear, has been revealed as the new owner of the Green Britain Centre, following an agreement to buy the site from Breckland Council.
And the firm is now set to move its base there from its current home in Lynn over the coming months - creating what officials claim is a "substantial" number of new jobs.
The district authority revealed it had secured a buyer for the site in January, around two and a half years after the centre suddenly closed.
Earlier talks over a potential land swap with Swaffham Town Council ended without agreement, though details of the buyer have only been made public this afternoon once the sale was formally completed.
Arbortec Forestwear specialises in the design and manufacture of personal protective equipment for the forestry and agricultural industries.
It is expected that existing staff will move from Lynn to Swaffham early next year, once refurbishment work at the Turbine Way site is completed.
Paul Hewett, Breckland Council executive member for property and projects, said today: “Attracting an international business to Swaffham is a great coup and I’m delighted to welcome Arbortec Forestwear to our district.
“The company is set to bring a significant number of jobs to Breckland, which is great news for local people, while breathing new-life into the iconic building and continuing a journey which is fitting with its ecological past.”
Arbortec's managing director, Karl Brothers, added: “We’re delighted to have purchased the iconic Green Britain Centre, which will facilitate and support the company’s global growth strategy.
“We are excited that the Green Britain Centre will once again become a busy hub of activity, supporting the local community in the heart of Breckland and providing employment opportunities for the area.
“As a company, we are passionate about nature and believe in protecting and maintaining our environment and that makes the Green Britain Centre - with its environmental heritage - such a great facility for our global HQ.”
