A LEADING brewer is forging ahead with its £3.5m expansion plans despite concerns over the present economic downturn.

Bosses at Moorhouse’s Brewery, Burnley, have announced that the first sod will be cut on a 5,000-square-metre site in January.

The new complex, pictured above, will triple brewing capacity for its Pendle Witches brews to 900 barrels a week.

David Grant, Moorhouse’s managing director, said: “Following years of planning, the directors have taken this bold decision to go ahead despite the current economic recession.

“In recent years we have consistently broken all sales records year-on-year. This ambitious investment is a very strong pledge of confidence in that success.

“While brewing and pubs are taking a severe beating from high taxes, the smoking ban and the recession, all industry evidence points to a very positive future for well crafted cask-conditioned ale.

Good pubs with a strong cask offer will survive.

“With a new major regional brewery, in 2010 our celebrated brands will be even better placed to play a big part in that future.”

The £1.8m phase one, comprising new brew-house and warehousing, is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2009.

Stage two will see new offices, visitor centre and training school erected on the site of the present Moorhouse Street brewery – built in 1870 by William Moorhouse as he expanded the drinks business he founded nearby in 1865.

The existing administration centre and warehouse will be cleared for car parking, with completion expected for spring 2010. A training school and visitor centre are also included in the plans.

Moorhouse’s directly supplies several hundred freehouse’s and pub company outlets in the north west and Yorkshire while the beers are also distributed nationally via wholesalers and pub chains.