A LOCAL company that manufactures micro biological equipment is planning on expanding its Bingley base.
Don Whitley Scientific Limited had been based in Shipley for 40 years until, in 2018, the company moved to a larger site at Victoria Works on Victoria Street in Bingley town centre.
The company specialises in the design, manufacture and servicing of micro biology equipment for use in clinical environments such as hospitals and laboratories.
The business has now submitted a planning application to Bradford Council to demolish some outbuildings on the site and erect a purpose built storage unit, which the application says is needed due to the “continually expanding” nature of the company.
Investment of almost £1m planned for empty Shipley building
The application is for a 5,34 square metre building near the entrance to the site.
Don Whitley Scientific employs over 70 people, and while the majority are based in Bingley, there are also sites in Germany and Australia.
The company is named after its founder, local microbiologist Dr Don Whitley, who died in February 2019 aged 89 after a short illness.
He had been awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Bradford in 2009 for his achievements in applied microbiology.
Items produced by the company include cell/tissue culture workstations and electrical microbiological detection systems.
The most recent planning application is a re-submission – an earlier application for a new building on part of the site close to the neighbouring rail line was withdrawn after discussions with Network Rail.
The company decided building the unit in that area would be too costly – and so re-drew the plans to move the unit further from the track.
The latest application, which has just been submitted to Bradford Council, says: “Don Whitley Scientific are a continually expanding business and require further expansion space.
“The proposal to which this application relates outlines the proposals for demolition of existing outbuildings and replacement with a new purpose built storage unit.
“The construction of the new building will comprise a lightweight portal steel frame with low level facing brickwork and profiled metal sheet roof and wall cladding, all generally to match the existing main buildings.
“Given the relatively similar scale of existing/ new buildings and use of materials in keeping with the existing site, it is considered that the proposal will have no detrimental impact on the surrounding area.
“It is considered that the proposal will have no detrimental impact on the surrounding area and at the same time facilitate the continuing expansion and development of a well-established local business.”
A decision on the application is expected next month.
