A FIRM that employs nearly 1,000 people at a Hampshire base has refused to rule out job losses there as it announced plans to combine two of its office buildings.

Staff at the Aviva base in Chandler's Ford have been told how the company intends to quit Natwest House, one of its two premises on the Hampshire Corporate Park.

Employees here will move into the remaining building at Chilworth House next door - a move that will be complete by the end of 2016.

This news came as the company announced plans to close a number of its offices at UK sites elsewhere.

When asked if job losses could not be ruled out at the Chandler's Ford base, off Templars Way, which employs around 900 people, a spokeswoman said: "I can't say...We can't say for any site at the moment".

Aviva said this was part of its aim to focus the firm's operations on a number of core locations in the UK following its acquisition of Friends Life.

When it announced plans for the merger back in January, Aviva said it was looking at a potential reduction in the UK of around 1,500 and a spokeswoman said this figure had not changed.

Staff will be informed from now onwards until the end of 2016 if they will be affected, but a spokeswoman was unable to be more specific about when employees in Chandler's Ford will be told of their future.

An Aviva spokeswoman said: “We have previously said that we expect to deliver approximately £225 million of annual savings by the end of 2017 as a result of the Friends Life acquisition.

"Savings are expected to come from a number of areas, including simplifying the business and reducing property costs.

"We are working through a detailed plan to increase the capacity in Chilworth House.

“Our people are our first priority and we are working closely with them to support them throughout this process.”

Aviva, which has it headquarters in London, employs 18,000 people across the UK.

It has confirmed its core locations in the UK will be Bristol, Norwich, Perth, Sheffield and York and that these sites will be supported by a number of specialist and trading sites across the country including at Chandler's Ford.

The company has confirmed it will be closing offices in Salisbury, Stretford and Salford.

It will also have a reduced presence in Dorking, Exeter and Manchester city centre.

“We appreciate this is disappointing and difficult news for some of our employees and we are helping our people through this process, providing a range of support and advice, and consulting with employee representative bodies about these changes," said a spokeswoman.

“We will look to minimise the impact by offering redeployment opportunities where possible."