Prime Minister David Cameron has given heavyweight backing to FatFace’s decision to become the first tenant at Havant’s new Dunsbury Hill Farm business park development. Mr Cameron was responding to a question in Parliament during Prime Minister’s Questions by local MP Alan Mak, in which Mr Mak urged the Prime Minister to recognise the exciting times ahead for Havant’s business community.
Mr Mak visited FatFace’s Havant headquarters last week.
The Prime Minister joined Mak in encouraging more businesses to relocate to Havant as part of the Government’s continuing support for job creation across Britain. Mr Cameron’s backing comes just days after Mak undertook a visit to the clothes retailer in his Havant constituency.
Alan Mak praised the impact of Dunsbury Hill Farm’s first occupants, FatFace, as the Havant MP was given a tour of their Havant premises. The outdoor lifestyle clothing brand will be expanding into a new distribution centre on the border of Purbrook and Leigh Park whilst maintaining its Head Office in central Havant.
Mr Mak was given a tour of the Havant headquarters before seeing plans for the prospective 120,000sq.ft. site, which will serve as the principal supply centre for FatFace stores around Britain. The Havant MP praised the retailer for their key commitment as a local employer, with 300 staff based across the Havant and Dunsbury Hill Farm sites.
Mr Mak has been a strong supporter of the 50-acre development at Dunsbury Hill Farm since its inception. In February 2016 Mak joined Local Economic Growth and Communities Minister, James Wharton, on a tour of the site.
The Havant MP then cut turf on the new development, and is delighted that the first occupants are FatFace. The development is set to create over 3000 jobs in total and will provide a major boost for the local community around Purbrook and Leigh Park.
Following his visit, Mr Mak said: “I’m delighted to speak up for Havant’s economy in Parliament, and its great news that internationally-renowned retailer FatFace are committed to a future at the Dunsbury Hill Farm development. Their presence is a real coup for Leigh Park and the whole Havant constituency.”
The Havant MP added: “Along with their Havant headquarters, the new FatFace site will be a real hub of employment, enterprise and growth for our area, that’s why I am fully behind it locally and in Parliament.”
FatFace CEO Anthony Thompson commented: “We are delighted to see the Prime Minister and Alan supporting our expansion into the Dunsbury Hill Farm development. It is an excellent facility that will drive forward business, innovation and employment throughout the local area.”
Mr Thompson added: “Our aim is to strengthen our base in Havant, with this new distribution centre allowing us to better supply our thriving stores across the Solent region. Whilst our business includes international retail, our local staff and customers are hugely important to us.”