DENCO, based in Hereford for nearly 60 years, has confirmed it is leaving the city.

But it is not going far, just four miles out to new premises at Moreton Business Park at Moreton-on-Lugg.

The air conditioning and engineering company's four acre site in Holmer Road has been acquired by Morbaine Ltd, the company largely responsible for the development along Roman Road nearby.

It is understood Morbaine will be making a planning application to Herefordshire Council for new uses, but not food retailing, on the site.

Relocation

The success of this application will determine when Denco moves to its new address but it is expected it will happen next year.

Denco, in Hereford since 1944, will relocate with around 250 staff.

Originally the company had considered moving to new purpose-built premises on land at Rotherwas, formerly used by Westfields football club.

But now Denco has decided to move north instead of south, its change of heart largely due to difficulties over access and risks of flooding at Rotherwas.

At Moreton Park it will move in to 90,000 square feet of refurbished building and will also take over 15,000 square feet of office building for an HQ at the entrance to the site.

The owner of the park, Greatwest Investments Ltd, has recently submitted plans to create another one million square feet of building at Moreton for new warehouse and office units.

James Towersey, of Hereford's Jon Turner and Co, acting for Greatwest Investments, said these could be constructed on a speculative basis or to specific requirements of individuals.

Greatwest bought Moreton when the Army's RAOC moved out and its spokesman, Andrew Horner, said things were moving forward positively.

There was a direct rail link in to the park from the Newport to Crewe line.

The link ran into disrepair over the years, but it is being reinstated and rail use could start up again in January.

Another move from Holmer Road to Moreton Park is that of Gelpack, manufacturers of plastic goods.

It plans to take up warehousing space at Moreton and vacate premises off Holmer Road close to a building formerly occupied by Casa furnishings, most of which is likely to be demolished to make room for a new retail unit on the site.

Gelpack's businesses in Grandstand Road, Hereford, and at Madley are not affected.