A MAJOR furniture manufacturer is to invest £10 million in a new kitchen factory at Sherburn-in-Elmet, creating 150 jobs.

Furniture manufacturers Ultima announced this week it has bought a ten-acre former factory on the Sherburn-in-Elmet industrial estate, which will be fully renovated in the next year to create a new factory for building kitchens.

The plant, in Bishopdyke Road, is expected to be fully operational by early next year.

Selby and Ainsty MP Nigel Adams said the new jobs would be a great boost for the district.

Mr Adams said: “On behalf of Sherburn-in-Elmet and Selby district I am delighted to welcome Ultima and look forward to the day when production starts.

“Furniture manufacturing has become a high-tech business and it brings with it a need for highly-skilled jobs, creating new opportunities for employment and for careers with a growth company.”

Ultima was founded in Barnsley more than 30 years ago, and has outgrown its two existing factories in Pontefract.

Once complete, the new factory will produce bespoke kitchens for customers around the country.

The 151,122 square foot factory space has been empty for about five years, and has already been cleared as part of the development – which will also see Ultima buy 90,000 square feet of adjoining land in the two years after production starts.

A spokesman for Ultima said the company would employ local staff and use local suppliers, and had already spoken to a number of neighbouring companies on the industrial estate.

Orders have been placed with Kingspan for insulated roofing and external cladding panels, Emmerson Doors for industrial doors and electrical work is being carried out by a number of local companies.

Colin McMillan, of Ultima, said “We are delighted with this factory, it is ideally located and provides us with the space we need for our expansion plans.”