A PROMINENT city centre building has been bought by developers to meet the ‘lack of modern office space’ in Salisbury.

Office investors Ameriscot Commercial has begun work on Warner House, 123 Castle Street, with plans to create offices that will “offer something different”.

The company bought the building for an undisclosed fee in a deal negotiated by Myddelton & Major.

Bill Parker of Ameriscot Commercial said: “Salisbury is an extremely attractive city but it lacks high quality modern office space. We are confident that the product will meet the needs of the city’s businesses.

“As with all our buildings, we try to offer something different and Warner House will have a coffee shop and attractive courtyard garden. Suites will range from approximately 1,500 sq ft and all will be air-conditioned.”

The Bournemouth-based company has added the property to its portfolio which includes Grosvenor House in Southampton and Trafalgar House in Winchester.

Myddelton & Major partner Dean Speer said: “The property has been sold to Ameriscot Commercial who will be providing the city with exactly what it needs with so much office space reverting to residential use.

“The Bournemouth-based firm, which has a current portfolio of approximately 340,000 sq ft of offices in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, will deliver the first ‘Grade A’ quality space in the city centre in more than 10 years and it was a pleasure to help facilitate the sale of this building.”

The building used to be home to pensions and insurance company Friends Life, which employed around 900 people in the city before it was acquired by Aviva.