ROYAL London Group staff have received a huge boost with news that the company is staying in Cheshire East.

Royal London say its existing offices at the campus in Wilmslow no longer meet the needs of a growing, modern business.

As a result, the company has considered a range of options for the future, including potentially moving out of the borough.

After a lengthy evaluation process, Royal London told its local staff today of its intention to stay in Cheshire East, with the favoured location being the Parklands building at Alderley Park, three miles from the Wilmslow campus.

Neil Kilshaw, head of group facilities and estate transformation at Royal London, said: “It has long been recognised by Royal London and by Cheshire East Council that our existing buildings in Wilmslow no longer meet the needs of a growing modern business like ours.

“We have thoroughly investigated a range of possible sites, including remaining at a redeveloped Wilmslow campus and moving out of the borough.

“Our exhaustive search has convinced us that Cheshire East and Parklands is the best possible location for our business and our staff.”

A company spokesman said: “A move to Parklands will enable Royal London to continue growing and creating high quality jobs and training opportunities in Cheshire East, whilst providing a world-class working environment for current and future workers.

“The short-distance move will also minimise disruption for employees.

“The company still has the option to develop a building on the existing site should any unforeseen challenges emerge over the next few months, but strongly believes that ‘Parklands’ is the best option.

“The firm will be able to occupy the site sooner than any of the alternatives considered and won’t be at risk of continued disruption of extensive and sustained building works going on around staff as would be the case on the current site.

“A move to Parklands also creates an opportunity for new businesses to be drawn to the Wilmslow site in the future.

“This would boost the borough economy and create hundreds of new jobs in the town, in addition to the local jobs retained by Royal London at its new location.

“Royal London Asset Management, which is responsible for strategic management of the site, remains committed to supporting the Cheshire East Council vision for a Living Campus in Wilmslow, as set out in the council’s Local Development Framework.

"As such, work regarding planning applications at the campus is ongoing.”

Parklands is a self-contained office building set within 400 acres of scenic parkland at Alderley Park. The space is divided over five floors and is designed as a high-quality, open-plan working environment.