First glimpse of First Choice's new Cannock HQ

Staffordshire County Council recently approved plans for the business to move from its current base at Swaffield Park in Hyssop Close in the town to the Kingswood Lakeside Business Park so it can expand its headquarters.

Work is scheduled to start by the summer and be complete by next March.

The new building for the catering spares distribution company, considered a national leader in its field, will include a three-storey office incorporating kitchens for catering and training purposes, overlooking a nearby lake.

The First Choice Group already employs 130 people and will now expand its operations in the new larger premises, enabling it to potentially double the number of employees.

Company director John Whitehouse said: "We have been established for 16 years now and First Choice has become a familiar name in both the commercial catering industry and the local area.

"The business has seen double digit growth every year, moving to larger and larger premises in the process and is still expanding."

Kingswood Lakeside was developed by Staffordshire County Council and is already home to environmental firm Veolia and APC Overnight - the UK's largest delivery company.

It will soon see cable solution business HellermannTyton move in to a new premises on site.

The land was bought from the county council by property development and investment firm Opus Land.

Staffordshire County Council's economy leader Mark Winnington said: "We're pleased to see planning approval for the new First Choice HQ at Kingswood Lakeside – one of the county's main business sites and one developed by the county council.

"This is yet another example of how, together with our partners, we are supporting business expansion in Staffordshire.

"It means more quality business development, retention of a leading company in its sector and more jobs in the Cannock area at a time when we have record low employment figures for the county."

Cannock Chase Council's cabinet leader for economic development and planning Gordon Alcott also lent his support to the project.

He said: "First Choice are a growing company and supporting such companies is absolutely vital for the economic regeneration of Cannock Chase district.

"The granting of planning permission for their new premises on Kingswood Lakeside not only protects local employment, it opens the door to future employment opportunities in a well-designed state of the art building next to the M6 Toll."