Modern business hub to replace former department store (From Daily Echo)

Modern business hub to replace former department store

6:31am Saturday 10th May 2008 in

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THESE swanky new offices are what business giant Capita wants to replace the run-down former C&A building in Southampton.

The plans for a "regional business hub" have been unveiled following a ten-year, £290m deal with the city to run key services.

Capita took on 650 council staff in the customer services, IT, human resources, property, tax and benefits departments.

The new building is designed to complement a revamp of Guildhall Square and the redevelopment of the nearby Tyrrell & Green building into a new arts complex and apartment towers.

It is part of a scheme to create a new "lively and attractive" cultural quarter in the centre of the city, which council leaders hope will attract visitors across the south coast.

As reported in the Daily Echo, a sex shop, snooker hall and other firms are being evicted from the C&A building, which is mostly owned by the council, so it can be flattened.

Capita, which wants to move into new offices within three years, has drawn up plans for a complete redevelopment of the site. It wants to build a sixstorey building with basement parking to provide offices with shops, a restaurant or cafes.

A one-stop customer service centre has been planned for the ground floor. The council plans to sell the C&A building to Capita's developer and possibly lease back two floors.

Meanwhile, councillors will next week agree to buy the fourstorey building at 162 to 174 Above Bar Street, which houses the Old Fat Cat pub.

The council wants to make sure there are no problems with the redevelopment of the former Tyrrell & Green store next door.

There are no immediate plans to buy out the 125-year lease held by brewer Greene King.