WESTINGHOUSE Brakes' landlord, The Skelton Group, is hoping to tempt the manufacturer into staying in Chippenham with the offer of a new 82,000 sq ft headquarters.
One of Chippenham's oldest manufacturing firms, Westinghouse Brakes announced plans to quit the town two weeks ago and relocate its 350-strong workforce to Melksham or Swindon.
The company's managing director Paul Johnson revealed how the firm had outgrown its factory and had been unable to negotiate a suitable deal with its Langley Park landlord or find another suitable base in the town.
But on Monday, Skelton submitted proposals for a new hi-tech base for the manufacturer near to its current site, which could enable it to stay in Chippenham after all.
Skelton spokesman, Will Kitchener, said: "For the past ten months we have worked closely with Westinghouse Brakes to develop plans for a new, prestigious headquarters at Langley Park."
"This is the ninth separate development option that The Skelton Group has prepared for the firm and has an 82,000 square foot plus expansion capability which could provide an exciting new base, designed to cope with Westinghouse's continuing evolution."
Revealing that the current Brakes works could be demolished as part of the site's ongoing development and to finance the building of the new HQ, Mr Kitchener added that discussions were now underway with Westinghouse Brakes and that Skelton remained committed to finding a solution.
Westinghouse Brakes' MD, Ian Johnson, said: "It has always been our wish to stay in Chippenham, but so far the suggestions have not been suitable.
"This new proposal will of course be given our proper consideration."
Westinghouse Brakes has occupied its current site for almost a century and has employed generations of Chippenham families.
Now part of the Langley Park development, it makes brake systems that are exported all over the world and has an annual turnover of £50million.
If agreement cannot be reached between Westinghouse and Skelton, the manufacturer could move out of Chippenham by 2005.
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