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18
Jun 2023
The Harrogate district business making a 'once in a generation' move
Relocating businesses is a common sight with some upscaling and others downsizing.
But, for one Harrogate district firm, moving the company which has been based in the same place for half a century to the other side of the A1(M) is a once in a generation decision.
Northern Energy has operated from its headquarters in Hampsthwaite for 70 years.
It was founded by Ralph Robinson in 1932 when it supplied milk and coal before moving to its current base in the 1950s where the company stared to distribute agricultural and commercial oil.
These days, the firm has ambitions to shift into the renewable gas trade.
However, to do that it needed a bigger base.
'Once in a generational spend'
James Illingworth, Ralph’s great-grandson and director of sales at Northern Energy, said they identified Marton-cum-Grafton as its new home some three years ago.
For him, he describes the project to relocate as a decision made only once in a generation.
He said:
Work being carried out on the new Northern Energy site.
The new headquarters will be based off Limebar Lane on the A168 and is 15 miles from the current home.
The company bought the land from WA Pick and Sons farm and started work on phase one at the start of June.
As part of the plans, 10,000 square feet of office space, a vehicle depot, LPG and oil storage tanks and a new car park will be built.
Mr Illingworth said much of the driving force behind moving the family-firm was the need for space in order to grow the company in the coming years.
Read more:
- Northern Energy begins work on new Harrogate district headquarters
- Council approves Northern Energy plan to move from Hampsthwaite
The new site will be accessed via the A168, which runs parallel to the A1(M) near Boroughbridge.
Part of the reason for choosing the Limebar Lane site was to take advantage of the motorway system, says Mr Illingworth.
Completion of the first phase, which includes the 400,000 litres of gas storage and loading bays, is earmarked for completion in March 2024.
From there, the company hopes to construct the staff offices and begin trading more in renewable gas.
For Mr Illingworth, the site is the next step for Northern Energy in its evolution as a company.
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