CHARLES Clinkard, the family owned footwear retailer, is to open a new £3m head office in Middlesbrough.

The development will also include a new warehouse to meet the rising demand in online sales – the company is forecast to achieve £6m in online sales this year rising to £10m over the next three years.

The HQ and warehouse will be built on the site of the former "At Home" store on Cannon Park and will replace its existing home at Eveline House, Preston Farm, whose lease expires later this year.

Work is likely to start on the new 5,000sq m building in April and local companies and labour will be used wherever possible.

Charles Clinkard, managing director, said: “We haven’t worked out the finer details yet as the deal is still going through but it will be great for the business. It will take us around six months to rebuild and we’re hoping to open it in January 2016.

“The new space will hold a lot more stock and this will set us up for the future, providing us with the opportunity to grow to the next level.”

More than 90 people are employed in the head office and warehouse and as online sales increase more jobs are likely to be created. The company estimates that for every £1m increase in online sales five jobs will be created.

Charles Clinkard’s grandparents opened the company’s first store in Middlesbrough in 1924 – today it has 33 stores nationwide employing more than 600 staff.

Cllr Charles Rooney, Middlesbrough council’s executive member for regeneration, said: “We are delighted to be welcoming Charles Clinkard’s HQ back to Middlesbrough, complementing their existing shop on Corporation Road.

“This announcement is great news for Middlesbrough town centre. The company is a distinguished name in retail and we should be proud both that it began life here and that it is now returning. The development will be fantastic for the local economy and will bring with it numerous benefits to the town.

“We are looking forward to seeing the plans brought to life as, from the look of the proposed building and landscaping, it will change the face of Cannon Park and most likely encourage others to bring their business to the area.”