A booming East Lancashire office furniture manufacturer is proposing to build a 'landmark' office complex at one of its sites.
The Senator Group (TSG) wants to add the complex to its Huncoat Business Park site, one of seven sites across Lancashire which also include Altham, Huncoat, Blackburn and Darwen.
In 2022 the firm had a record-breaking year, increasing sales by more than 30 per cent to attain a £215 million turnover.
Now it has applied to Hyndburn Council for planning permission for the new building off Newhouse Road in Huncoat.
The proposal is to build a new extension to the manufacturing facility providing office space, expansion of the existing canteen area, external terrace space, undercroft car parking and associated external works following the demolition of two-storey brick-built office facility and smoking shelters.
A design and access statement submitted with the application says: "The site is located on the Huncoat Business Park situated to the south west of Huncoat Village and north east of Accrington.
"It forms part of the Hyndburn Strategic Employment Site allocation.
"The site is well served by public transport links and approximately one mile from a junction to the A56 which connects directly to the M65 motorway.
"At present, the site forms a car parking area for the Senator furniture manufacturing factory.
"The proposed offices will form a landmark building within the business park through contemporary design and its use of materials.
"The massing is in keeping with the surrounding context and picks up on the verticality expressed throughout the business park in cladding and glazing styles.
"The proposed form has derived from the undercroft car parking at ground floor which provides a plinth to the building and continues this footprint to the offices above.
"The main entrance steps away from the back of pavement to allow for landscaping and a space to define it.
"The undercroft parking will be clad with perforated metal cladding, brown in tone, to tie in with the office building to the South-West boundary of the site and as a subtle nod to the existing offices which are subject to demolition.
"Black cladding and glazing will wrap the upper floor and continue to the entrance and extended canteen spaces.
"The external decking area will adopt a form of greenery through green walling or similar methods to create an area of well-being for staff and visitors within the otherwise light industrial context.
"Level thresholds to the main entrance will continue through to the factory floor and canteen whilst a new lift will be installed to allow access to the first floor offices and external terrace area.
"The office extension is to accommodate existing staff members.
"As existing, the site has provision for 62 car parking spaces and nine motorcycle parking spaces across the front of the existing factory building.
"The proposed scheme provides 68. car parking spaces and retains the nine motorcycle parking spaces and proposes cycle shelters.
"The car parking levels are increased by introducing undercroft parking below the proposed offices therefore minimising impact on the existing parking areas. The undercroft will comprise 12 spaces."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here