MULTI-MILLION pound plans for a state-of-the-art Glaxo factory in Ulverston are to go on show to the public for the first time this week.

The wraps are coming off GSK's £350 million new factory plans at a series of exhibitions.

The plans go on show on the following dates and at the following venues:

Coronation Hall, County Road, Town Centre, Ulverston

Thursday February 20 from 5pm - 8pm

Saturday February 22 from 12pm - 4pm

GSK Sports & Social Club, North Lonsdale Road, Ulverston

Wednesday February 26 from 5pm - 8pm

Saturday March 1 from 12pm - 4pm

The company has had a factory in Ulverston since 1948 and it is its first new factory in the UK for almost 40 years.

Pat McIver, of GSK, said: “Our new factory will be at the heart of an exciting and growing area of GSK’s global business and the medicines made here will benefit millions of people around the world.

"It will be a place for long-term high value employment and there will also be opportunities for other local businesses.

“We know many people have been eager to find out more about the factory and we’re very excited to be able to reveal our plans. We’re also looking forward to talking to local people and getting their feedback before we submit an outline planning application.”

The company says that over the life of the investment, it is expected that it could more than double the 250 people now working at the site.

Visitors to the public exhibitions will be able to look at the current designs and layouts for the factory and speak to GSK staff and planning experts.

Copies of the masterplan for the new factory and a feedback form will also be available at a dedicated website www.GSK-Ulverston.co.uk

The company says the factory will be a state-of-the-art facility as it will specialise in 'biopharmaceutical manufacturing'.

It says this type of industry takes place in a closed, clean and sterile environment, so the buildings will have a hi-tech, rather than a traditional industrial look and feel.

Biopharmaceutical products are described as advanced medicines which treat a wide range of diseases including cancer, autoimmune and hereditary ailments.

It will also be a phased development - dependent on the progression of GSK’s new product pipeline, and GSK expects to start work on building the first part of factory next year.

It will then take about six years before the first phase is opened because of the high specifications needed for the facility.

Pat McIver, of GSK, added: “The new factory in Ulverston will mean the medicines of the future will not only be discovered in Britain, but can also be made here as well.

"This is an important development for GSK. It shows our strong commitment to manufacturing in the UK and to Ulverston.”

The investment at Ulverston was announced after the Government decided to introduce the ‘patent box’ scheme to encourage more investment in the UK.

It means that pharmaceutical companies pay a lower tax rate on new products that are discovered and made in this country.

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, visited the GSK site at Ulverston for the announcement about the new factory in 2012.

He said: "This is excellent news, a major investment that will create many highly skilled jobs and provide a great boost to the economy."

Copies of the masterplan for the new factory and a feedback form will also be available on the GSK Ulverston website www.GSK-Ulverston.co.uk