As result of strategic support given by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Lymington-based composite yacht builder, Green Marine, is to move its production facilities to Hythe Marine Park.

Green Marine to relocate production facility to Hythe Marine Park

The move will enable Green Marine, recently acquired by the Dutch company Vitters, to merge its existing production facilities in Southampton and Lymington into one at the park. This will give the company the flexibility to increase its production and secure new boat building and refit contracts, boosting the local economy.

Green Marine Managing Director Marcel Müller said: “Green Marine has a long tradition of building some of the world’s best performing sailing yachts and we are proud of our local work force. Moving our production facilities to the Hythe Marine Park will allow us to stay one of the biggest employers in the Solent marine industry. Green Marine will make significant financial investment in new technology and plant to secure and expand our market position for the future. We are pleased that SEEDA shares and supports our vision to develop the Hythe Marine Park into a world class centre of Marine Excellence.”

Paul Flatt, Senior Development Manager at SEEDA, added: “SEEDA has been working closely with Green Marine for a number of months to enable them to fulfil their current growth aspirations.  Their relocation to Hythe will bring new jobs to the area and support the growth of the local economy. It will help establish the park as a centre of marine engineering for the Solent and as a key facility for overseas investors in the UK marine sector.”

Cllr Maureen Holding, New Forest District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Employment said “The success of our marine sector is crucial in creating new jobs and local economic growth, particularly in these tough financial times. We are therefore very pleased that Green Marine has chosen Hythe Marine Park as the ideal location to consolidate their production facilities. With a world class yacht builder such as Green Marine at its core the Marine Park now has a great chance to develop into a world class centre of marine excellence”

Located directly on Southampton Water, Hythe Marine Park was transformed by SEEDA in 2007 into a centre for the marine industry for the South East. Today, it is home to a number of marine companies and the Solent Refit Facility, an independent large yacht refit yard launched by SEEDA earlier this year. Green Marine is set to have a five-year lease to occupy some 60,000 square feet of production and office space at the park.