Plans have been unveiled for a £12 million development which would see ALD Automotive relocating to new offices in the South West within the next 18 months.

The company’s proposed move to the purpose-built, 36,000 sq ft offices at Vertex Park, Emersons Green, Bristol, will see its staff move four miles from their existing headquarters to provide much-needed space for further recruitment and planned expansion.

With planning approval granted last Friday, work on site is likely to commence in the autumn with completion due by the end of 2016.

Mel Dawson, managing director of ALD Automotive, said: “We moved to our current location in 1995, following an MBO, when we had less than 100 staff and, since then, we have grown significantly and now have almost 400 employees.

“Looking after the needs of blue-chip plc’s, SMEs and private individuals - and being part of an international group that manages over 1 million vehicles in 40 countries - it’s important that our new office environment not only reflects the size of the business we now are and allows us to continue our planned expansion, but helps us to operate more effectively in meeting the needs of our customers.”