ONE of the region's oldest construction companies is moving to a £1.5 million new headquarters in Bolton.

G&J Seddon Ltd has unveiled plans for a purpose-built headquarters which is under construction in Plodder Lane, Bolton.

The company will move into its new premises designed to accommodate future growth of the 106-year-old firm -- in September 2005.

The move to the new site is the first since the company was formed in 1897 and will make way for a mixed-use retail park at the company's current premises in Little Hulton.

Plodder Lane is already home to a number of Seddon Group companies -- including Seddons (Plant and Engineers) Ltd, District Garage Ltd and Winget Ltd.

Jonathan Seddon, great grandson of one of the company's founders, said: "The move to Bolton is only a couple of miles from Little Hulton and the business will operate exactly the same as before. We employ more than 100 people at head office and more than 450 site-based personnel throughout the region.

"We also employ 45 apprentices and will continue to recruit locally."

G&J Seddon has been based at Little Hulton since brothers George and John started a building firm that was to become one of Salford's most successful companies.

The business has expanded and the company has built additional accommodation, but it has now outgrown its historic roots. Mr Seddon said: "There is a great deal of history tied up in our existing premises which has made the decision to move very difficult, but we are very excited by our plans for our new home in Bolton."

GROUNDWORK: Michael Slack, left, company secretary; Keith Waddington commercial director; Christopher Seddon, managing director and Jonathan Seddon, construction director at the site of Seddons' new headquarters