Just shy of a year since spades hit the ground at Gloucester Business Park, the internal fit-out of the new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is taking shape.

Once complete, the facility in Hucclecote will include manufacturing space and office accommodation and will be the new business headquarters as well as the production and repair facility for Dowty Propellers UK.

Owned by GE Aviation, the Gloucestershire-born firm specialises in the manufacture of propellers and propeller components used in commercial airliners and military airlifters, multi-role seaplanes and marine hovercraft.

The company have said that its new facility will incorporate the latest 'brilliant factory' technology which equips machines with sensors, allowing data to be analysed in real time.

The site is expected to be operationally ready by the end of 2019.

Once complete, the 350-plus Dowty employees will progressively transfer to the new facility once it is operational from the company's interim base at Vantage Point, Mitcheldean, in the Forest of Dean.

Bosses at the firm have previously spoken about their commitment to continue operations in the Gloucester area following the fire that destroyed its operating headquarters and blade manufacturing facility in Staverton back in February 2015.

The development is just one of the many new buildings being constructed across the business park, including a new HQ for Ecclesiastical Insurance and a second G-TEKT Europe factory.

Gloucester Business Park is home to a large business community of more than 70 companies, including BAE Systems, Ageas Insurance, G-TEKT Europe, Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, Direct Wines and TBS Engineering.