TopHat’s Corby factory was originally meant to start construction in 2023, before being pushed back to an unspecified 2024 date
The TopHat factory development in Magna Park would increase the volumetric modular housing manufacturer’s production capacity from 800 units a year to 4,800 units when complete.
Earlier this week, the Northamptonshire Telegraph reported that “every member” of the Corby team has been laid off.
The future of TopHat’s manufacturing robots is unclear
Orders have been placed for 59 manufacturing robots from German manufacturer Kuka Robotics, although none have yet been delivered.
TopHat’s most recent accounts showed a £20m pre-tax loss on £10m of sales- even after recieving a £15m government loan from Homes England.
The news follows years of losses for TopHat
A TopHat spokesperson confirmed the report, saying that: “TopHat continues to believe it will only be through bringing volumetric factories of the scale of Corby on stream that the UK will be able to solve its long term housing crisis.
“However, the short term market conditions mean it is prudent to pause now with the building almost complete but no equipment yet on site. We continue to develop our pipeline and will monitor conditions closely to restart when it is right to do so.”
TopHat currently operates out of its factory in Dove Valley Park, near Derby, where a third of the workforce were let go a few weeks ago.
The suspension of the TopHat factory means that all seven of the planned units at the Magna Park logistics site are vacant.
