Model maker Hornby is moving 150 staff to a new base at a business park putting another nail in the coffin of its historic headquarters in Margate.

The move for its office workers to Discovery Park in Sandwich follows the transfer of its warehouse operations to a new facility in Hersden, near Canterbury, last year.

It leaves just a handful of people running its visitor centre in Thanet, where the company has been based for more than 60 years.

The move is part of a series of cost-cutting measures brought in since new chief executive Richard Ames joined the business in February last year.

He was appointed shortly before the firm revealed pre-tax losses of more than £4.5 million, added to losses of £3.3 million the year before, owing to issues with its manufacturing supply chain in Asia.

Mr Ames, a former director at Ladbrokes, announced the transfer of warehouse operations to a 100,000 sq ft site in Lakeside Business Park in Hersden in June, completing the move in October.

In November, the company announced losses had been cut to £516,000 and an 8% increase in sales to £24.2 million.

The company’s office-based operations – including sales and marketing, accounts and human resources – will move to a new 16,000 sq ft base in Discovery Park in May.

The business park, formerly a Pfizer research facility, has attracted 108 companies since launching in 2012 thanks to the discounts on business rates it can offer thanks to its status as one of the UK’s 24 Enterprise Zones.

More than 2,000 people now work there.

Hornby finance director Nick Stone said: “Our current offices were no longer fit for purpose and we considered Discovery Park to have the best office facilities available.

“The site also offers room for us to grow, an innovative environment to do business and a positive ethos, gained from being based amongst other businesses there.

“In theory, we could have relocated anywhere, however we were intent upon staying in east Kent for a number of reasons, not least because of the many loyal and experienced employees we have here, but also due to the area’s regeneration and transport links.”

Anna Stone, leasing manager at Discovery Park, said, “We’re delighted to welcome Hornby, a brand leader and well-loved household name, to the site.

“Discovery Park is the place to do business and this is evidenced by the fact that we have grown from five original tenants to more than 100 in just over two years.”

Discovery Park’s industrial, rail and military past reportedly caught the attention of Hornby which also makes Corgi die-cast models and Scalextric.

The site has a colourful locomotive history, having been covered in rail marshalling yards during the First World War.

It is located just a mile away from a former Train Ferry berth which used to transport goods to Europe.

Hornby was founded by Frank Hornby in 1901.