Swaythling passenger cars in the UK, leaving the Southampton made Transit as their only British-made vehicle. In 2009, with the new Kocaeli, Turkey, plant in full production, Ford reluctantly halved production at Southampton and reduced the workforce to just over 500. Employing 500 workers, the factory produced up to 35,000 Transit chassis/cab variant vehicles annually, of which 50% were exported. The Ford Southampton plant closed on 26 July 2013. The very first branch of the DIY chain B&Q was opened in Swaythling in 1969. The shop was owned by Messrs Block and Quayle. Swaythling railway station is on the main line
Woodie's DIY DIY proceeded to perform strongly as growth in house prices increased the need for residential repair and maintenance. Woodie's DIY Woodie's DIY is an Irish DIY and home improvement retailing company. Founded in 1987 in Walkinstown, Dublin and opening the first store in the same year, it is a part of Grafton Group plc. Woodie's DIY is a nationwide company, having over thirty stores in Ireland. It merged with Atlantic Homecare in 2005, with all Atlantic Homecare stores being rebranded as Woodie's. The company was founded in the summer of 1987, and the first store opened in Walkinstown under the