Construction starts on £15m parcel firm base

Construction has started on a new £15 million parcel delivery company's base in the heart of Staffordshire, which is set to create 300 new jobs.

Work has started on APC (Alternative Parcels Co Ltd) Overnight's new home at Kingswood Lakeside, near Cannock, and the new 150,000sq ft headquarters is set to be completed by the autumn.

Steve Salt, head of sales and marketing, said they will be keeping the old site, off Warstone Road, in Essington, and staff will be split between both hubs.

He said: "The old site will complement the new one and strengthen the services we are already offering."

Mr Salt added that he is hoping the Kingswood Lakeside will be up and running by September or October.

The site will become a giant warehouse and have a 208-space car park.

Details of the proposals have been handed to council planners in Cannock.

The firm has vowed that the development would create up to 300 new jobs for local people.

The news has been welcomed by Cannock MP Aidan Burley, who said it would boost the local economy and demonstrated an "encouraging future" for the former mining town.

He said: "This is further evidence that Cannock Chase is open for business and that jobs and prosperity are coming back to our area."

The building will include a two-storey administration office building. The company has more than 125 local depots covering all areas of the country and the firm's bosses were recently commended when they visited Wolverhampton Racecourse for the Express & Star Business Awards 2012.

Choosing APC as their overall winner, the judges tipped the company as a business to watch for the future.