Resource consent was gained several months ago and building consent was granted last week, with the job going to construction company Calder Stewart, which built the present structure.

The workshop space will increase from 1500sq m to 3000sq m, while the combined engineering and administration space would increase from 800sq m to 1600sq m.

At present at the site there is a metre-high pile of gravel on the expansion site, to compress the ground below, which will then be removed for slab preparation and construction to begin.

Scott chief executive Chris Hopkins said he expected construction to start by the end of the month, with the job finished early next year and staff scheduled to move in by February or March. - read on . . .