HAMPSHIRE law firm with two offices close to Southampton City centre is moving to an out-of-town location.

Moore Blatch, which employs 160 staff at its offices in the Avenue and London Road, is relocating to the Gateway House building in Chandler’s Ford.

The firm says the new premises will enable it to bring all its departments under one roof.

Chandler’s Ford’s transport links, being close to the M3 and the M27, meant it was better placed to serve clients from a broader geographic area.

More parking space, faster Internet connections and and a more eco-friendly building were also factors in the decision to move, said Mark Aston, the firm’s head of business development and marketing.

Mark said space was also a driving force in the decision to move to away from the city centre.

“We have run out of space,” he said.

Mark said more room was needed to accommodate the expanding conveyancing department which had secured national contracts with banks and developers.

The new offices will have a restaurant for staff, clients and prospective clients.

“This will enable the staff to interact with each other and and for the clients to meet each other,” said Mark.

Moore Blatch, which has more solicitors based in Southampton than any other law firm, employs 300 staff across its two Southampton offices and Lymington, Richmond and the City of London.

The firm reported a turnover of more than £20 million in the last financial year.

The move is scheduled to take place in May.

David Thompson, managing partner Moore Blatch solicitors, comments: “Since the economic downturn of 2007/8 Moore Blatch is one of the few law firms in the UK to continue to invest and expand, and this has now seen us outgrow our current offices.

“By growing our team of legal experts and investing in new technology we have been able to secure new work both locally and nationally. Southampton is a fantastic city to run our business from, and we’re delighted that the majority of our staff and many of clients are from Southampton or the surrounding area. We look forward to continued growth in 2017 and beyond.”

The announcement of the move comes just 24 hours after other legal heavyweight Dutton Gregory said it, too, was quitting the city centre for Chandler’s Ford.

It is moving from its present premises in Carlton Crescent to larger, more modern premises at Concept House, Stoneycroft Rise in Chandler’s Ford, from mid-March.