Huge food factory will be demolished three years after closing

A massive food factory in Dukinfield will be demolished, three years after it shut its doors.

Pilgrim’s UK, one of Britain’s largest pork providers, shut down operations at the Bow Street site back in 2023.

Now plans to demolish the vacant factory, on the border of Dukinfield and Ashton, have been approved by Tameside council. It is expected that demolition work will start at the end of this month and take 14 weeks to complete.

All the warehouse buildings within the site boundary will be razed to the ground as part of the scheme.

It is anticipated that a full planning application for a new warehouse will be tabled by applicants OREP Fund Propco 1 Limited in the coming months. Planning papers suggest this application would form part of a redevelopment of the industrial site.

Planning papers read: “We write on behalf of our client, OREP Fund Propco 1 Limited, to submit information for a prior approval application for the demolition of the existing buildings and structures on the Former Pilgrim’s UK premises, Bow Street, Ashton-under-Lyne.

“It is proposed that the existing buildings and structures on the site would be demolished starting on March 31, 2026 with a full planning application to redevelop the site for new industrial / warehouse buildings to follow.”

There was uproar locally when the major pork provider first mooted the factory closure in May 2023 – putting 542 jobs at risk. Local residents, councillors and Ashton MP Angela Rayner all expressed shock at what felt like a sudden decision at the time.

In a statement issued back in 2023, Rachel Baldwin, Vice President of Human Resources, Pilgrim’s UK, said: “The decision to propose the closure of our Ashton site has not been taken lightly and we have made every effort to explore alternative options.

“A key part of our work to return to growth includes ensuring we fully optimise our operational footprint and the age and location of Ashton within a densely populated area means that there is no feasible opportunity to modernise or grow the site.

“As a result, these proposals are unfortunately essential to ensure a sustainable future for our team members across the UK.”