The Oxfordshire office of engineering consultancy Gifford is to relocate to new £3m premises on Chawley Business Park at Cumnor Hill. Since 2000, the company has been based in Witney, where 60 members of staff operate from two office sites in Langdale Court.

Its new home, for which contracts were exchanged in January, will be a two-storey block of around 9,000 sq ft. Construction began last month and is expected to be completed in the autumn The 15-year lease and rental, plus fit-out costs, total £3m.

All 60 staff will move from the Witney office when the new premises are ready for occupation.

Director Matthew Tyrrell said: "The relocation is a fantastic opportunity for us and is a result of the strength of business and enquiries being agreed with our local clients. We also have plans to expand the services provided locally, tapping into the excellent skills base available within Oxford across all disciplines.

For Mr Tyrrell, along with technical director Vaughn Lawfull, the move will involve a sense of homecoming. Mr Tyrrell's family has strong links to Cumnor, where he was born and both he and Mr Lawfull attended the nearby Matthew Arnold School.

Chawley Park, being developed by Albion Land, is already home to Timbmet's headquarters and building work is now under way for builders Basil Wyatt.

Emma Jewson, partner at Kemp and Kemp, explained: "Chawley Park is a rare opportunity for businesses as it is the only site this near to the city currently offering a design-and-build office solution on either a freehold or leasehold basis."

3:43pm Friday 18th April 2008

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