Smith+Nephew has announced plans to build a new research and development and manufacturing facility for its Advanced Wound Management franchise at Wykeland's Melton West business park in East Yorkshire.

Property developer Wykeland Group has secured over an £80 million investment by the global medical technology business.

Subject to planning approval, the location is just eight miles from Smith+Nephew's current site in Hull, where the business has been located for more than 100 years. The new facility is expected to open in 2024.

The investment will create a world-class R&D, manufacturing and flexible office environment, which is expected to support more than £8bn of sales in its first 10 years of operation.

Melton West business park has been selected for the investment because of its proximity to the existing Hull facility. It also offers a site with the size and established infrastructure to accommodate the new facility and is allocated under the East Riding of Yorkshire Local Plan for developments of this kind.


An artist’s impression of the Smith+Nephew research and development and manufacturing facility which the company has announced it plans to build at Wykeland Grop’s Melton West business park in East Yorkshire.

Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director of Hull-based Wykeland, owner and developer of Melton West, said: "We are delighted the strategic, long-term investments we have made in the infrastructure at Melton West business park have enabled Smith+Nephew to stay within the region and make such a huge investment in a state-of-the-art new facility.

"Smith+Nephew is one of the region’s leading employers, with a proud local history and heritage. This investment will open an exciting new chapter in that story."

The 200-acre Melton West business park is one of Yorkshire and the Humber's premier locations for investment and job creation. It enjoys a prime location west of Hull, off the A63 and connecting to the national motorway network within minutes via the M62.

The Smith+Nephew facility will be the latest major development at the growing site, which features more than one million sq ft of completed warehouse, distribution, manufacturing and office space.

An aerial view of Wykeland Group's Melton West business park, where the new S+N facility is proposed to be located. The 200-acre site is one of Yorkshire and the Humber's premier locations for investment and job creation.

In December last year Wykeland secured planning permission from East Riding of Yorkshire Council for a £170m retail logistics fulfilment centre at Melton West. This centre will have a footprint of 558,000 sq ft and create 1,300-1,500 permanent jobs, additional seasonal and indirect employment, and further jobs during the construction phase.