Kingswood unveils plans for new Chorley headquarters

Kingswood Homes has acquired a derelict Chorley pub which it plans to demolish and replace with a two-storey office.

The former Grill and Grain at the Boatyard near Hoghton was purchased from Thwaites Brewery. It has not been used since being destroyed by a fire five years ago.

Kingswood has submitted plans for 12,000 sq ft headquarters, including the original annex, which will in time be used as a design studio.

The building will also feature a communal meeting area and private pods for staff to work from, plus a virtual reality suite homebuyers will be able to visit by appointment to experience the layouts of Kingswood’s homes using the latest VR technology.

The site sits by the Leeds-Liverpool Canal and Kingswood intends to integrate parking into the landscaping scheme to soften the development and enhance the site’s appearance.

It’s anticipated that Kingswood will move into the new office in 2024. The company owns its current base in Little Hoole, which will be released for sale in mid-2023.

During the last 12 months, Kingswood welcomed new starters in almost every department and set up a new engineering department. The business now directly employs 42 people.

In the next financial year, to March 2023, the company is set to build more than 150 homes and is targeting turnover of £40m. As part of its continued growth plan, the business is aiming to increase its output to 250 homes within the next few years.

Paul Jones, managing director of Kingswood Homes, said: “While other businesses are perhaps closing offices or at least downsizing, it’s important for our business that as we grow, we have we space where our staff can come together and collaborate as a team.  We’re happy for people to work from home, in the offices of our development sites or at our headquarters. Moving to the new office will enable us to accommodate our growing workforce in support of our growth plans offering somewhere the different parts of the business can share ideas.

"We didn’t want to simply take on the lease of a bland business park building – we wanted a new headquarters that represents, encapsulates and celebrates our core values. The location of the former Grill and Grain is perfect for us as we have several sites within easy reach and so we’ll also be able to use the new office as a central hub to support the customer journey."

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