Rose Green firm hopes to expand

Osborne Refrigerators has applied for planning permission to extend its factory by more than a third.

The firm intends to add 523sq m to its existing premises in Rose Green Road of 1,430sqm if Arun District Council agrees.

Christopher Manhide, its planning agent, says in a statement: “Osborne Refrigerators employ at the present time 60 full-time staff.

“Due to an increase in orders, they are looking to expand the facility.

“This will provide an additional 20 full-time jobs in the manufacturing sector.

“At the present time, 95 per cent of the workforce lives in the Arun district.

“We believe the proposed development will also provide much-needed manufacturing jobs for the local community.

“The company is a manufacturer of refrigerators and coolers and provides for both the local market and also the export market.

“There is only some 20 per cent of the manufacture for export.

“The remainder is for use within the UK, therefore reducing the number of imports coming into the country from abroad, particularly China.”

The firm sells products such as upright chiller cabinets, undercounter cabinets, milk-chillers and fish-keepers mainly to commercial clients.