B&Q staff on the move to new Head Office

THEY have been based in their current offices for a quarter of a century.

But moving headquarters for B&Q employees in Chandler’s Ford should not be too difficult – as their new building is just next door.

Around 1,400 people who work for the DIY superstore will be transferring over the next eight weeks to a purpose-built office adjacent to their current headquarters in Chestnut Avenue.

The new office, named B&Q House, has taken just over two years to complete, has three floors and more than 220,000 sq ft of floor space.

A spokesman for the company said the new headquarters have been built using the latest green technology.

She added: “Heat sensors have been installed throughout the building which automatically open and close windows to keep heating bills down.

“B&Q will be using biomass boilers to power the heating system and there will be a 100,000 litre rainwater harvesting tank, which will be used to irrigate the surrounding landscape and to flush the toilets.”

The move comes just days after the company announced a slump with sales in outdoor products down a fifth in the 11 weeks to July 16.

Owner Kingfisher put the drop down to bad weather and clearance sales at collapsed rival Focus DIY.

B&Q House will be officially opened in September by celebrity architect and TV presenter George Clarke and record-breaking sailor Dame Ellen MacArthur.

Source : Bethan Philips - Southern Daily Echo
www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/9160257.B_Q_staff_on_the_move_into_new_headquarters/