A family-owned Redditch haulage carrier employing 50 people has expanded further into new premises on the Lakeside Industrial Estate.

Kirkpatrick Carriers was established in 1965 by retired managing director Raymond Kirkpatrick and its growth into a national company is now managed by his sons Neil, aged 39, and Leigh, 37.

Business property consultant John Truslove took just four weeks to arrange the company’s expansion to an additional 11,000 sq ft warehouse, offices and yard next door to Kirkpatrick headquarters at 88 Arthur Street.

The freehold deal to acquire 54 Arthur Street, signed with Newtown Vehicle Rentals, provides the haulage company with a brand new site area of 1.1 acres – and it now owns four separate sites in the Arthur Street industrial area.

John Truslove said: “We are extremely pleased that we were able to get the contract completed in such a short time for Kirkpatrick Carriers – for whom this deal was extremely important.

“The property has a wide road frontage with its own vehicular access on to Arthur Street and stands on a large site with plenty of scope for further expansion by what is a highly successful Redditch company.”

Leigh Kirkpatrick said: “We felt this was not an opportunity we could afford to miss because most of our operation is now consolidated on Arthur Street.

“It helped us considerably that John Truslove was able to arrange the deal so quickly, meaning we can continue the growth of the business.

“We also have a depot at Shenstone in Staffordshire that specialises in full and part loads to Scotland – while our Redditch depot offers UK and European distribution and vehicle maintenance.

“We own our fleet of 35 lorries and trailers, adhere to old fashioned values like putting our drivers in uniform, and make sure that the company continues to develop in the way my father Raymond envisaged over 40 years ago.”

Kirkpatrick Carriers, is highly thought of by many of its national clients, including DCS Europe of Stratford-upon-Avon.

Denys Shortt, its chairman and chief executive officer, said: “The service provided by Kirkpatrick Carriers has been the key to the success of DCS Europe and will continue to play an integral role in the future development of the company.

“The Kirkpatrick family attitude has always provided a friendly and efficient working relationship.”