Brompton, the UK’s largest bicycle manufacturer, unveiled plans for a new eco-friendly factory and headquarters complex in Ashford, in the county of Kent, England, that will help it move towards doubling its capacity to more than 200,000 bikes a year.
The company aims to open the new facility, situated within unused wetlands, in 2027, moving away from west London where it opened its first factory from two railway arches in Bollo Lane, Acton in 1986. Its current factory in Greenford, which will continue to operate until 2030, was opened in 2015 and enabled the company to increase its output to 100,000 bikes annually.
The new factory will be constructed on a floodplain, which will provide an opportunity to restore the wetland and promote walking and cycling for the local community. By 2027, the company expects to employ over 1,500 staff. Once fully operational, the proposed development will result in around 4,000 jobs being supported locally, including supply chain jobs, jobs supported by the spending of staff and the factory operation itself. The proposals equate to a £100 million investment into the local economy.
Will Butler-Adams OBE, CEO at Brompton, said: “As we face climate change, combined with poor mental & physical health in our cities, where most of the world population live, we need to adapt. There has been a global realisation post-pandemic that we need to change how we live in our cities, to design them around the people that live in them, not the automobile. Brompton has a large part to play in supporting that transition, but we need to have more space to innovate and create the products of the future. London was the inspiration for the Brompton and our success is in large part is due to our diverse and skilled staff who continue to nurture and develop our company. By choosing Ashford we can retain this strong connection to London and the UK, whilst being on the doorstep of Europe. We have a long journey ahead with the planning and development of the new site, but we’re thankful for the support of Ashford Borough Council, Hollaway Studios and Quinn Estates towards achieving our combined ambition to build this revolutionary and sustainable bicycle factory of the future.”
