HAMPSHIRE insurance giant Ageas is set to move to the former B&Q headquarters in Chandler’s Ford in the largest office deal in south Hampshire for three years.

The new sponsor of the home of Hampshire Cricket paid an estimated £6m for the 90,000 sq ft Portswood House site on the Hampshire Corporate Park.

Ageas, which employs 1,200 staff at its three offices in Tollgate, Eastleigh, is planning to move to the site next year as part of its expansion, bringing the prospect of more local jobs.

The sale is the largest office occupier deal in the Southampton area since Carnival took new offices in the city centre more than three years ago.

Portswood House was the base for B&Q, who had occupied the offices since their construction in 1985.

B&Q and its 1,400 workforce quit the site in September 2011 for new 220,000 sq ft headquarters on the other side of Bournemouth Road, named B&Q House.

An Ageas spokesman said: “As part of its continued investment in the local economy, Ageas can confirm the company has completed on a transaction for new office space in the Hampshire Corporate Park on Templars Way. Currently employing more than 1,200 staff in the Eastleigh area alone, the new offices will give Ageas scope for further growth in the locality. The move is expected to take place during 2013.”

Nick Tutton, associate director at CBRE who advised Ageas, said: “Following B&Q’s relocation last year, the availability of Portswood House gave Ageas the perfect opportunity to acquire a building suitable for future expansion close to its existing offices.

“The building will now undergo a comprehensive refurbishment to provide a modern, quality office building for Ageas’s occupation”.