Parcel firm APC's go-ahead will deliver 300 jobs

A parcel delivery firm has been given the green light to create a new £15 million base in Staffordshire, creating 300 new jobs.

Planning permission has been granted for couriers APC Overnight's new home at Kingswood Lakeside.

Cannock Chase council officers have approved the plans and the firm will now be able to go ahead with the building of a new 150,000sq ft headquarters, before 250 existing employees make a move from the firm's current Essington base, in Warstone Road, joining 300 new staff.

The granting of planning permission is the product of ongoing discussions between officers from Cannock Chase Council and the company over the last 18 months.

Gordon Alcott, the council's economic development and planning portfolio leader, said: "This decision marks a milestone in the working partnership between APC Overnight and the council in bringing the firm to a new base in our district.

"It is undoubtedly a boost for the area, with new jobs coming in, and we're hoping it will be a springboard for APC as well.

"We're committed to economic growth for Cannock Chase and council officers are working well to match the needs of companies to the opportunities we have for them to relocate and to benefit from the strong local workforce."

It comes as the firm announced pre-tax profits of £3.4million for the year – up from £2million last year – and a turnover of £58million.

Sales and marketing manager Steve Salt said business at the firm had grown to the point it had been forced to rent out a 40,000sq ft temporary storage warehouse in Cannock town centre to house extra stock over the Christmas season.

"We are keeping the jobs local and making a big investment in the area," he said. APC, or Alternative Parcels Company Ltd, has more than 125 depots in the UK and has seen profits surge by 70 per cent, despite the challenging economic conditions. Work on the new site, should be completed by next October.