A family-run company which specialises in the acoustics of building has opened its new £4million HQ.

The Oscar Innovation Centre was 40 weeks in construction and has opened at Formby Road in Halling.

It will be the new base for 30 staff at Oscar Acoustics, which has been in business for 45 years.

The building was designed by Urban and Rural architects and built by WW Martin on the site of the former Cemex cement works in the Medway Valley.

The centre comprises two distinct buildings: the main office structure that boasts a modern open-plan workspace, meeting rooms, a welcoming lounge, and a two-storey warehouse.

As the centre has been treated in the firm’s own acoustic products, it will also serve as practical showroom where prospective clients can experience Oscar Acoustics' products first-hand in a real-world setting.

The companion building houses six two-story units, dedicated to the company's innovation facility and expanded warehousing capabilities.

Ben Hancock is the managing director. He said: “Having our new premises is a dream come true and something we’ve been working towards for many years.

“The goal wasn’t just about building a new headquarters, but creating a high-quality working environment for our employees, with a focus on their health and welfare.”

Central to the firm’s ethos is a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship.

From the project's inception, the company mandated the use of eco-friendly materials and construction methods where possible, and prioritised biodiversity in the surrounding area.

The facility features bike storage and shower rooms to encourage staff to cycle to work.

And with an array of solar panels, the building can operate entirely on solar power.

Mr Hancock added: “Both our business and our family have strong connections with Kent, so it was important we stayed local to the area.

“Having transformed a previously derelict site, we’re now focused on taking the business to the next level, supplying the architectural community with ground-breaking acoustic products that help create healthier and happier, and more productive, working environments.”

The company’s past clients have included the Hard Rock and the Four Seasons Hotels in London, the University of East Anglia, the Tate Modern and the Windermere Jetty Museum.

The company was founded by Ben Hancock’s father, John Hancock, in 1978 and was originally known as Oscar Engineering.

The firm has moved from West Kingsdown.