Every development site has a story. Engine Works Park’s stretches back over six decades — a timeline of British manufacturing ambition, global engineering, community employment, and ultimately, reinvention.
1962: Hilger & Watts
The site at Westwood, Thanet, was first developed in 1962 by Hilger & Watts, a precision optical and scientific instrument manufacturer. At the time, Kent’s industrial base was expanding rapidly, and the Westwood site offered the space and transport links that post-war manufacturers needed. Hilger & Watts used the facility for production and assembly, contributing to Thanet’s growing reputation as a location for skilled engineering work.
The Cummins Era
The site’s most significant chapter came when Cummins — the American engine and power generation giant — took over operations. Under Cummins, the factory became a major employer in the region, with up to 600 people working on site at its peak. Annual turnover reached approximately £400 million, making it one of the most economically significant operations in East Kent.
For decades, the Cummins factory was a cornerstone of the local economy. It provided skilled employment, supported a network of local suppliers, and anchored the Westwood industrial area as a genuine commercial hub. Generations of Thanet families worked there.
2016: Closure
In 2016, Cummins announced the closure of the Thanet facility as part of a global restructuring programme. The impact on the local economy was significant — hundreds of jobs were lost, and a major anchor tenant disappeared from the Westwood estate. The site fell vacant.
2018: Fire
Two years later, a devastating fire broke out on the site, burning for approximately 25 days. The blaze destroyed much of the original structure and left the site derelict. For the local community, it was a visible symbol of decline — a once-thriving factory reduced to a burned-out shell.
Yeats Acquires the Site
Yeats identified the Westwood site as a prime redevelopment opportunity. Despite the fire damage and the complexity of the remediation required, the fundamentals were compelling: a large, well-located plot on an established industrial estate, with direct access to the A256 and proximity to the new Thanet Parkway railway station.
Working with our equity partner Nimol, Yeats acquired the site and began the process of transforming it into Engine Works Park — a 59-unit, 126,000 sq ft commercial development designed for the next generation of Thanet’s business community.
Engine Works Park: The Next Chapter
The name “Engine Works” is a deliberate nod to the site’s Cummins heritage. We believe in honouring the industrial history of the places we develop — not erasing it. The new scheme is designed to accommodate the businesses that are driving Thanet’s economic future: logistics operators, light manufacturers, trade contractors, creative studios, and growing SMEs.
From Hilger & Watts to Cummins to Yeats — Engine Works Park is a 64-year story of industry, resilience, and rebirth. And the next chapter is just beginning.
