INSURANCE giant Ecclesiastical has given a huge vote of confidence in the future of Gloucester by agreeing to build a new headquarters in the city Docks.

After months of speculation, the company confirmed that the multi-million pound project will go ahead, providing a massive boost for the vital regeneration of the heart of the city.

The 600 staff employed at the company's existing headquarters in Brunswick Road are expected to move into the new building in 2015.

Ecclesiastical's transformation director Graham Johnson said: "The staff I have spoken to are very positive because it means we are staying in Gloucester.
"They are all bright eyed and bushy tailed about it."

Ecclesiastical, which has had its headquarters in Gloucester since 1976, has reaffirmed its commitment to remaining in the city.

The insurance company, which was founded in 1887 to protect Anglican churches from fire, will build the new HQ on Southgate Moorings which is being used as temporary car park off of Southgate Street.

Contracts have been agreed with the site owner South West RDA (Regional Development Agency) which is set to be scrapped by the Coalition Government.
Ecclesiastical's Graham Johnson said: "We are very excited about reaching this big milestone and hope it sends a clear message to the city that we are committed to Gloucester for the long-term.

"We have a very clear vision for our new office.
"It will bring all our people together in a modern environment and will strengthen motivation and morale. This will improve the way we work and strengthen our culture even further. The project will take a while to complete because we want to make sure we leave our current offices behind responsibly.

"We want to ensure the new building is sympathetic to its surroundings, environmentally friendly and fits well with all the fantastic development work already completed or underway in the city.
"Getting this agreement signed is a big step forward for us, but there is still a long way to go."
Peter Holloway, development manager at the South West RDA, said: "This move has been on the cards for some time and it's fantastic to have got the deal to this point.

"Not only does this secure the future of a major employer in Gloucester, but the new office building will complete one of the remaining plots at the Docks – an area which we have worked hard to regenerate over the last 10 years.

"There is a real buzz around the Docks now and this is set to get even better when the public spaces are completed later this year and once Ecclesiastical moves in."

Chris Oldershaw, chief executive of the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company (GHURC) which is leading the 10-year regeneration of the city, said "We are very pleased that Gloucester's biggest employer has committed to develop its new headquarters in the city.
"This is an expression of commercial belief in Gloucester and a massive boost for the city's on-going regeneration signalling a confidence in the city which is not going un-noticed across both the South West and nationally."

As well as churches, Ecclesiastical is also a specialist insurer of charities, the education and care sectors, heritage buildings and fine art.

It also provides a wide range of commercial insurances, as well as home, travel and wedding insurance, selling through brokers and direct.

Owned by a charitable trust, Ecclesiastical employs 1,000 people worldwide and also operates in Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. In 2009 it made a profit of £79m.

The GHURC 10-year plan is based on the regeneration of seven key sites within the city centre. Nicknamed the 'Magnificent Seven', these are: Gloucester Docks, Gloucester Quays, The Railway Triangle, King's Square, Greyfriars, Blackfriars/Westgate Quay and The Canal Corridor.