Local Building Products Company Set for Expansion.

Canterbury Longrun Roofing, a division of the 40 year old Nelson based Freeman Group, have committed to a site in the Ashburton Business Estate. Whilst the recession has been felt in Mid Canterbury the depth and effects have been nowhere near those felt in many other parts of the country or world and Canterbury Longrun Roofing have committed to servicing the anticipated
upturn with a new and expanded local operation.

Typical of much of the other Estate activity Canterbury Longrun Roofing have committed to a 1.1 hectare site which is somewhat larger than their immediate requirement owing to the affordability of the Estates pricing. This will give them the freedom to further expand again when their business requires it, something that has become a luxury that’s been largely priced out of today’s existing
industrial areas.

With titles due late 2010 Canterbury Longrun Roofing anticipate commencing construction of their new facility shortly after receiving title leading to an expected opening of the new facility in early2011.

Mayor Bede O’Malley said “This is another example of provincial companies doing well and actually looking to grow through what many have called one of the worst recessions we’ve faced in 70 years. We’re not denying that the effects haven’t been felt locally but true to good old Kiwi style we’re seeing the resilience of the provinces really starting to show.”

Other buildings the Freeman Group have built for themselves have been an outstanding architectural showcase for their product line and the Ashburton District Council, the developer of the 90 ha Estate, were pleased to sell them one of the high profile corner sites within the development to them in anticipation of this happening again.

The Estate has been over a decade in the planning with the canny local Council purchasing the rural zoned land in 2000 well before the price boom and activity since then has been directed towards rezoning, planning the development, upgrading the local roading network and getting the services to the Estate which is situated on the north-eastern periphery of Ashburton and adjacent to other large and medium scale industrial and processing activities. Provision within the development has also been made to shift the local rail operation from within Ashburton’s CBD to the Estate which has received huge support both locally and nationally though the funding details are still being worked on.

Canterbury Longrun Roofing is a division of Freeman Group which also includes Freeman Roofing in Nelson, Roofline Marlborough and another Canterbury Longrun Roofing operation in Timaru. The Freeman Group are a family owned Nelson based business that manufactures steel roofing, cladding and accessories for the building trade. As they also include an experienced supply and fix
department, they offer a total roofing solution from residential re-roofs and new builds to large scale commercial roofing & cladding projects.