Brompton Bicycles has said that plans for a £100m factory remain on hold due to a struggling economy.
Although plans for the headquarters and factory in Kent were approved last year, the manufacturer, best known for its folding bikes, stated that construction would not begin until 2027 following a collapse in profits.
A year after receiving planning permission, the firm’s managing director, Will Butler-Adams, one of several business leaders accompanying Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his trip to China this week, said the Ashford project was still on ice.
He told Kent Online: “While the project remains firmly on the table, it is currently on hold as we need to see a meaningful recovery in market conditions before moving forward.
“Given the scale and long‑term commitment of Ashford, it’s important that we proceed at a moment when the commercial environment is stronger and better supports the investment.”
Designed by Holloway Studio, Brompton’s new site is planned for a 100-acre wetlands location near Ashford.
The scheme, developed four years ago, will feature a circular building raised on stilts 2.2m above the flood plain, which will be transformed into a public nature reserve.
In its most recent results filed at Companies House earlier this month, the firm reported that bike sales fell 7.5% to 78,530 last year, citing “wider global economic uncertainty and continued challenges in the cycling industry”.
Turnover for the year ending March 2025 declined by 1% to £121.4m. While revenue from Europe, Asia, and other international markets rose, UK sales dropped 28% to £23m. Pre-tax profit recovered to £130,500 from £4,602 the previous year, but remained far below the £10.7m posted in 2023.
When the Ashford plans were first announced, Brompton stated its goal was to produce more than 200,000 bikes annually and employ over 1,500 staff. Last year, the workforce fell 6% to 790.
Holloway Studio’s design follows sustainable transport principles, providing no new car parking spaces. Staff and visitors will be encouraged to travel by bike or public transport, with a wide cycle path serving as the building’s main artery, allowing cyclists to ride directly into the factory, through the interior, and up to a rooftop museum.
The proposed development also includes dedicated spaces for designers, creators, and manufacturing facilities, all connected by an internal street.
Brompton’s current factory in Greenford, west London, is expected to remain in operation until at least 2030.
Source: Work on Brompton’s new £100m HQ still on hold a year after getting planning | News | Building
