A FAMILY transport firm is eyeing further growth in depot changes.

Stiller Warehousing and Distribution wants to add to its base in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham.

The company has submitted plans to revive an unused warehouse and office block to help with deliveries.

Bosses say the proposals are still in their infancy, but added they would help the business expand if brought to fruition.

Stiller, founded when a former German prisoner of war sold a herd of pigs and bought a truck, last year revealed it was extending a warehouse to hold 6,000 further pallets for its ever-increasing client base, with neighbour SCH Site Services erecting the steel.

Speaking about its latest plans, Stiller’s managing director, Matthew Stiller, said the potential changes would give the company further impetus.

He added: “This is very much in the early stages of planning and we still have a lot of exploratory work to do before deciding whether it will be commercially viable.

“If the project goes ahead it would ultimately enable us to re-arrange our warehousing to create more space, which would allow for further expansion, but it is still very early days.

“There are a number of further designs and costs to be taken into account, so there’s a lot of work to do yet.”

According to the company’s plans, the office block would be revitalised, with a cross deck area opened up for wagons to be loaded and unloaded.

Paul Kelly, of ADG Architects, which is supporting Stiller’s proposals, added: “This project is intended to bring staff, drivers and HGVs involved in distribution together in close proximity into an office and canopy area making use of an asset that is currently not used.”

Stiller provides warehousing and distribution services to businesses across the North-East and is a member and major shareholder in Palletline, a national co-operative network of firms.

Last week, the company, which employs nearly 140 staff, revealed two of its longest-serving employees had recorded a health and safety hat-trick.

Office manager Julie Gilpin and fleet and facilities manager Herbie Blaser – who have amassed more than 45 years’ service between them – helped Stiller gain an industry-recognised standard safety accreditations.

The pair worked with quality standards consultant Billy Naisbett, of Newton Aycliffe-based ISO Systems, over a seven-month period to attain ISO 18001 certification.

The achievement follows the firm’s longstanding accreditations for ISO 9001, which relates to quality management framework, and ISO 14001, for environmental management practices.