Heating firm lodges HQ plans amid growth period

Plans have been submitted to create an industrial unit on a Preston employment site, which will act as the new headquarters for a family-run business following a period of “significant and sustained growth”.PWA Planning, on behalf of First Trace Heating Group, has lodged an application for the unit on a 0.7-acre parcel of land off Chain Caul Way in Ashton-on-Ribble.First Trace Heating Group was established in 1998 with three employees. The company now employs 23 people, and works across heating, electric underfloor heating, water underfloor heating and glass reinforced epoxy pipe curing heating for fibre glass pipes.The scheme will create a new head office for the company, enabling it to expand to between 35 to 40 members of staff as part of its five year scale-up plan.A planning statement submitted with the application said that the company has “successfully grown and is now in desperate need of new premises locally”.The water underfloor heating element of the business specifically has experienced growth, largely due to the fact it works particularly well with air source heat pumps – which are becoming more popular.At present, First Trace Heating Group operates out of two separate premises for warehousing and office purposes, causing a disconnect and communication issues.The statement added that the consolidated location would “help to overcome any communication issues, reduce the carbon footprint as a result of less daily trips between existing sites and provide additional space to develop into”.As part of the plans, a 20,343 sq ft building will be erected, with a separate adjoining unit spanning 3,993 sq ft.The applicant intends to rent out the second space, with the intention of later expanding into it.Preston City Council will review the application in due course.