A Bradford textiles firm will open a new £9 million facility and create dozens of jobs in a move described as a “real success story” for the city.

JR Group UK, which owns JR Fibres based at the Euroway Industrial Estate, off the M606, is moving its non-wovens business, Texfelt, from Halifax to a new site in Cutler Heights Lane, Cutler Heights, Bradford.

The new site, which opens next month, is expected to create 46 new jobs over the next five years.

The scheme has been funded mostly by JR Group UK and has also received more than £470,000 from the Textile Growth Fund and £250,000 from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

JR Group UK will initially produce a range of products for the construction and flooring industries, with plans to diversify its portfolio into furniture, bedding, automotive, acoustic attenuation and thermal insulation. It is owned and run by the Taylor family, who have been in the Yorkshire textile industry for more than 160 years.

James Taylor, managing director of JR Group UK, said: “We are looking forward to giving a further business boost to the city. It will also give a jobs boost to the local economy.

“It is a big growth opportunity for us. This new facility will enable us to take our green credentials and our business to the next level. We will be the only business in the UK able to make these products and we’re very proud to be able to do this in the heart of Yorkshire in line with our proud history.

“We aim to not only create a sustainable method of production within Bradford, but also generate over 40 jobs and safeguard many more - jobs that would have been lost due to the unpopular product and old manufacturing methods they previously employed.”

The project, set over 6.5 acres, comprises a combination of machinery housed in a purpose-built building covering 56,000 sq ft, offices and a distribution centre.

First phase building work was completed in September and work has started on phase two, with a combined cost of more than £5m.

More than £3m has been invested in new machinery, including a range of high-tech sorting, mixing, treating and cutting machines to manufacture felt underlay, insulation and more technical nonwoven combination products, from recycled materials.

Texfelt makes felt underlay from 100 per cent recycled materials on needle-punch machines in Elland. Texfelt’s old factory will remain operational to satisfy demand for their established products, Envirolay and Sterling Royale, from specifiers and customers in Europe, the Middle East and the Far East.

Roger Marsh, Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chairman, said: “I am delighted we have supported JR Group UK on this project that will create jobs and boost the local economy.

“It’s great that our strong industrial heritage in textile manufacturing continues to grow and it’s a real success story for Bradford, the textile industry and the region as a whole.”