A LEGAL firm will be among the first tenants in Southampton's latest city centre development, pictured here.

The Daily Echo understands that a law company is in the process of signing up a deal to move into the Mayflower Plaza.

However, it is uncertain who the firm is yet, and the identity has led to a guessing game among rivals.

This is the latest image of how the office block will look.

According to the City Council, the project, and that of Charlotte Place a mile away, will see more than 20,000 square metres of new office space created over the next two years.

Planning permission has just been granted for the 0.69 hectare Mayflower Plaza mixed use development by the Mayflower Theatre in Commercial Road.

The scheme will comprise 10,500 square metres of office space in an eight-storey block fronting Commercial Road, 196 flats in a 15-storey block along West Park Road, two restaurants, and car parking provision for office staff and residents.

The residential units will include nearly one-third affordable housing.

The development, expected to be completed at the beginning of 2007, will have strong architectural features being designed in a 'V' shape with two blocks stepping from eight to 15 storeys, with the entrance facing Watts Park.

An open landscaped courtyard will occupy the central gap between the two wings of the building.

Commercial Road already has some famous tenants employing thousands of people - HSBC bank, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, civil law firm Bond Pearce and financial services giant Skandia.

A spokesman for the city council's economic development team said: "The development will enhance the area and help improve views across the city and its skyline.

"It is consistent with Southampton City Council's Urban Design Strategy, with a dynamic design and use of good quality modern materials."

At Charlotte Place an application to increase the number of offices has also been approved. The original application included 32 residential apartments but this has now been changed to 3,900 square metres of office space.

The development will therefore have a total of 9,800 square metres of office space.

The offices should be available from next September, five months after the proposed completion of the Jury Inns hotel at Charlotte Place.