Bakery confirms site for northern base

Oxfordshire-based Fine Lady Bakeries is planning to build a £20m bakery at Central Park in Newton Heath, east Manchester.

An application has been submitted to Manchester City Council to build the facility on a 20-acre industrial development site off Briscoe Lane.

Joe Street, managing director of Fine Lady Bakeries, said: "We are very interested in building a bakery in east Manchester which is in a great location for a northern base as it offers excellent transport links both north and south. We don't want to anticipate the outcome of the planning application but this is an exciting first step for us. We see this as a long term investment in east Manchester, creating jobs and other benefits for the local community."

Eddie Smith, chief executive of urban regeneration company New East Manchester, said: "It's great to have been chosen as the preferred location for this new factory. We have been working closely with Fine Lady Bakeries to secure the right site for them and we believe Central Park exactly meets their needs. Earlier this year we successfully relocated the Greggs North West bakery to Openshaw, safeguarding 220 jobs, and this new plant would eventually deliver an additional 250 jobs for Newton Heath and the wider east Manchester area."

Family-owned Fine Lady Bakeries produces a range of products for supermarkets, independent retailers, sandwich makers and catering companies.