International investment hailed by Mayor as ‘major vote of confidence in the East Midlands’

The Mayor of the East Midlands has hailed the investment by a major European building materials firm to build its new UK manufacturing headquarters in the East Midlands.

It comes after Fassa Bortolo was granted full planning permission by Erewash Borough Council for the development at New Stanton Park, near Ilkeston, Derbyshire.

The Italian company, renowned for its technical pre‑mix renders and plasters, will now progress plans to build a state‑of‑the‑art factory on the former site of Stanton Ironworks, creating about 100 skilled jobs and producing about 300,000 tonnes per year of high‑quality construction materials for the UK market.

‘Growing reputation’

Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward said: “This decision is a major vote of confidence in the East Midlands and our growing reputation for attracting high-quality international investment.

“Planning approval for Fassa Bortolo’s new factory shows once again why the East Midlands is becoming a first-choice location for global businesses. The creation of skilled jobs at a major strategic site with a proud industrial heritage is a significant boost for our economy and for communities across the region. This investment means better jobs, stronger skills, and greater long-term opportunity for local people.

“As Mayor, I am committed to backing projects that drive good jobs, invest in skills and development and support inclusive growth across the region. Fassa Bortolo’s investment, alongside the wider regeneration of New Stanton Park, demonstrates the East Midlands’ strength as a destination for advanced manufacturing and underlines our determination to build a resilient, future-ready economy.”

The scheme forms part of Fassa Bortolo’s wider €400 million international investment programme to expand modern, sustainable manufacturing capacity across Europe.

Bortolo Fassa, company president, said: “We are extremely pleased to announce our new headquarters in the East Midlands. This investment in New Stanton Park is a strategic choice, dictated by growing demand for our high-quality solutions across the UK and our strong belief in the continued growth of the UK construction market.

“By expanding our specific product lines, we aim to bring our expertise closer to our customers and significantly strengthen our distribution network.”

The new UK headquarters will include advanced production facilities, a 30,000 sq feet office building, a Fassa Academy training centre, and 140,000 sq feet of warehousing to support UK‑wide distribution.

The development will create high‑quality jobs across production, engineering, logistics, quality control and administration, with a strong focus on recruiting local talent and supporting skills development through the Fassa Academy.

New Stanton Park – already recognised as one of the most market‑ready manufacturing sites in the East Midlands – has been transformed by Verdant Regeneration, which is delivering the 220‑acre redevelopment capable of supporting up to 4,000 jobs.

‘One of the best locations’

David Ward, of Verdant Regeneration, said: “We are thrilled that Fassa Bortolo can now proceed with their development.

“The committee’s decision underlines what we have long believed: New Stanton Park is one of the best locations for manufacturing in the East Midlands. Fassa Bortolo is a prestigious international name, and their investment demonstrates the site’s growing reputation as a destination for modern industry.”

Regional leaders have joined the Mayor in welcoming the green light for development.

Councillor James Dawson, Erewash Borough Council leader, said: “We are delighted to see this project moving forward. Fassa Bortolo’s investment is a massive vote of confidence in Erewash, promising a significant boost to our local economy through new jobs and long-term growth.

“It’s about more than just construction; it’s about providing renewed purpose to an iconic site and ensuring our community remains a vibrant hub for industry. This is a vital step forward to a more prosperous future for all of our residents.”

Erewash MP Adam Thompson said: “This is a fantastic moment for Ilkeston and the rest of Erewash. Planning approval means high‑quality manufacturing jobs are now firmly on the horizon.

“Fassa Bortolo’s investment is a powerful vote of confidence in our local economy, and I’ll continue to champion projects like this that bring proper industry back to Erewash.”