350 new jobs as fashion firm grows?

Boohoo.com bosses want to double the size of their Burnley headquarters with a £5m. new extension at Heasandford Industrial Estate.

The booming fashion firm already employs more than 400 staff in the town at the existing warehouse and distribution centre on Widow Hill Road.

But the huge expansion proposals could mean hundreds of new jobs created in the town if plans are given the green light.

Burnley MP Gordon Birtwistle, who recently toured Boohoo’s Burnley base with bosses, believes it would be a huge boost to the local economy.

He said: “It is brilliant news for Burnley. It is a major investment in the town.

“The firm came to Burnley five years ago with just 40 staff and now they employ around 425 people.

“By 2015 they want to more than double their workforce to more than 1,000 staff.

“The bosses say the workforce in Burnley is superb, committed and work hard – they run two shifts seven days a week.

“They are really happy with what is going on in Burnley – they are phenomenally busy. It is a real success story in the town.”

The 12,379sq.ft extension would see a four-storey amenity block, service yard and a new distribution warehouse for the gorwing online retail business.

A full planning application has been submitted to Burnley Council and if granted the site could be open by the middle of next year.

A statement from developers said: “The site’s development will make a valuable contribution to the economy of the borough.”

“The proposed development, once fully operational will add a further circa 350 jobs to the local economy. The proposal is needed in order to support the growing on line retail business.”