EXCLUSIVE: Sirius takes over Skipton building

Sirius Minerals has signed a deal to move its headquarters to Prospect House, the former Scarborough Building Society building, at the town’s southern gateway on the A64.

The company, which is developing its newly-named Woodsmith potash mine near Whitby, is outgrowing its office nearby at Manor Garth on the Eastfield business estate. Sirius is aiming to move into the building by the summer, following a complete refurbishment.

Its polyhalite project will create over 1,000 jobs at full production and across the project, which stretches from the head office in Scarborough to the mine at Sneaton near Whitby, and the port and materials handling infrastructure at Teesside.

With a team of 70 people already based in its Scarborough office, Sirius is expecting its head office staff to grow to 160 this year. This will also be supplemented by additional contractor teams. The Prospect House building has stood idle for a number of years.

It was constructed for Scarborough Building Society in 2002 but was vacated following a merger with Skipton Building Society in 2010. At one stage it was also mooted as a potential new home for Scarborough Borough Council.The building, which sits within a site covering nearly four acres, has the capacity to accommodate Sirius’ growing team for the long term.

Gareth Edmunds, external affairs director at Sirius, said: “We are very pleased to be able to secure a building that meets the needs of our business.

“We have been located in the area since the launch of our Polyhalite project and this is a further demonstration of our commitment to the region.

“It’s great to be able to bring an iconic building in the town back into productive use and we hope this can offer further encouragement to other businesses considering investing here on the Yorkshire Coast.”

Robert Goodwill, MP for Scarborough and Whitby said: “I am delighted that this building, that been stood there as a reminder of the former great days of Scarborough Building Society, is going to be occupied by a business with a long-term future.”

Cllr Derek Bastiman, council leader, added: “The borough council has worked closely with Sirius and its great news that they are committing to the area and securing further high-quality employment for the borough.”