ONE of Southampton's biggest employers will leave the city next year.

The Daily Echo understands staff at HSBC were told this morning the company will move down the M27 to Whiteley in June.

It was revealed last month that the bank, which employs about 1,000 staff in the city at its base in Norwich House and Frobisher House, was in talks to move to new premises.

It is understood the firm wants to move out of the city as there was a lack of space at their current site allowing them to expand in the future.

The news will come as a blow to city council leaders, who said they had done everything they could to keep HSBC within Southampton.

A spokesman for HSBC said:  "I can confirm that HSBC will be moving from Norwich and Frobisher House to Solent Park at Whiteley.  

"We have considered a number of locations and the office at Whiteley offers us the space and flexibility to improve the working environment for employees."