Lush hoping to build new “green” factory in Poole

The company currently has seven manufacturing units on the Nuffield Industrial Estate, which supply 57 per cent of all Lush products sold around the world, plus a further unit in Willis Way for its mail order business.

Lush also creates and develops all its new products in Poole, and has five sites in the town centre for its administration, finance, design and laboratories.

But according to documents submitted to Poole planners, the company has decided it needs more space to almost double production by 2015 and continue operating in the town.

Verwood company Canford Renewable Energy (CRE) has asked the council to decide whether an environmental impact assessment would need to be carried out on a proposed new employment park.

The 43.49 acre site at Magna Road, which would be divided by the new Poole Town Football Club Stadium development, could easily accommodate the 10 acres needed by Lush. CRE wants to supply renewable energy to businesses on the site.

CRE’s report to the planners says Lush’s “large number of small premises and their dispersed nature” was not conducive to the growth the company wanted to achieve.

“After an exhaustive search (Lush) has concluded that land at north Poole meets their aspirations to build a green manufacturing campus that will enhance the wellbeing of their staff, create world-beating green manufacturing facilities through the use of renewable energy and sustainable building and enable them to showcase the business of which they are really proud,” it says.

The report adds that Lush’s development brief and illustrations from designers for the southernmost part of the employment area would be submitted with the planning application.

Paul Wheatley, Lush’s UK Property Director said: “At present we are exploring our options to build a new manufacturing unit on part of a 40-acre site in Poole. Discussions are in the very early stages and no firm decisions have been reached.”