AN expanding service station company’s plans to build a band new three-storey European headquarters in its home town are now on track for completion in the summer.

The multi-million pound project, opposite Euro Garages existing base on Haslingden Road, Blackburn, will create between 150 and 300 jobs.

Founded by brothers Mohsin and Zuber Issa in 2001, the firm started with one filling station in Bury and now has more than 330 sites across the UK and 2,626 European locations.

Now renamed the EG Group, the company decided to build its new HQ fronting on to Fishmoor Reservoir creating an initial 150 jobs.

It rcently received the necessary planning and other consents from Blackburn with Darwen Council.

They include permission for two drive-through restaurants as part of the development, creating dozens more jobs, and agreement on road improvements to ease traffic problems.

The current offices on will used as a training and development centre.

Following a meeting between borough and EG bosses, the leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, Cllr Mohammed Khan, said: “It really is wonderful to see this local company doing so well.

“The owners are making sure that their home town benefits from their success and they continue to provide fantastic employment opportunities. We are proud to have them here.”

Zuber Issa, co-chief executive, said “We are pleased to secure planning permission for the new office space.

“As you can appreciate, a business our size and global standing is regularly advised to move to a major city, however, we are proud of our Lancashire heritage and to date have resisted such suggestions.

“We see the advantages of being in Blackburn as it is our home, we like living in the town and we remain fully committed to having our main base here and seeing local people succeed. We are looking forward to having something special in Blackburn to host international visitors.”

Ilyas Munshi, EG Group commercial director, said “When we moved into the current offices six years ago we had a lot of spare room, however we’ve outgrown these facilities.

“Alongside our international growth, we are still investing significantly in the United Kingdom network so it is critical we have more office space.”

The company is considering a stock market flotation to raise cash for further expansion.

The scheme includes enough parking spaces for 349 cars, 26 bicycles and 17 disabled spaces.