1,100 employees move on to new General Electric base on Stafford's Redhill Business Park

American-based manufacturing giant General Electric (GE) announced it will move more operations currently based in the town to a new state-of-the-art 180,000 sq ft factory on the Redhill Business Park.

It will be the base for its High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and Systems operations. They will move from their current locations on St Leonard's Avenue.

GE currently employs about 2,000 staff in Stafford.

GE Grid Solutions' North Europe commercial solution leader Neil Beardsmore said: "We have been a major employer in Stafford for decades and this investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the local area.

"From this site, we design, engineer and manufacture technology that is shipped all around the world, forming an integral part of our customer's transmission and distribution networks and bringing value to their supply chain.

"It's a competitive market requiring advanced manufacturing skills and infrastructure.

"This investment will secure our position as a leading supplier to our customers worldwide and at the forefront of technology in the energy market."

The first GE unit on the business park should be finished this autumn. When the two buildings are finished next year, GE will employ about 1,100 people there.

HVDC units made in Stafford are being used across the world as part of vast projects.

"They include Sweden's South West Link, which is the country's biggest ever electricity infrastructure project and will increase capacity by up to 25 per cent in the central and southern regions in the country.

GE's Stafford-made projects are also being used in Brazil on the Rio Madeira project. Once complete that system will stretch across that country for 1,476 miles.

And the company's general manager Ted Amare added: "This is excellent news for Stafford, our employees, our customers and home for GE's HVDC activity for over 50 years.

"This investment will provide us with the space and facilities to accommodate the expected growth of the HVDC business.

"The purpose-built office and facilities that includes state of the art manufacturing and real time digital simulation test set-up is a clear indication of GE's desire to grow the HVDC business."

Staffordshire County Council's economy leader Mark Winnington said: "GE's first facility at Redhill is well on the way to be completed and is looking very impressive.

"Now the funding commitment has been agreed for the second we look forward to that development getting under way soon. It also demonstrates continued investor confidence in Staffordshire.

"GE has been established in Stafford for many generations; providing job opportunities for local people and is now the town's biggest employer. The company's decision to invest and expand in Stafford was a great boost.

"It also establishes the county council developed Redhill Business Park as a leading investment site." Redevelopment plans for St Leonard's Avenue, which could see 300 homes built on it, were revealed earlier this year.

But some residents said they were worried about the impact on roads and schools nearby the new building.

Legal & General will provide the finance for the most recent project for GE and work will be undertaken by property firm Goodman.

Birmingham-based Trebor Developments has already started work on their 115,000 sq ft building on the Redhill Business Park.

The Creswell area has seen huge development in recent years with Screwfix, Audi and Land Rover all moving on to sites just off the M6.