WORCESTER is being touted as a major growth area for office accommodation by the developers of a multi-million pound development in the city's Newtown Road.

Excellent motorway links and a worker-friendly environment were key motivating factors for Taylor Clark Properties, which is building three office buildings, totalling more than 87,000 square feet, next to the new hospital.

"What attracted us to Worcester was that it provides an environment companies would have no difficulty in persuading staff to move to. It's an excellent place to live and work," said John Fox, a director of London-based Taylor Clark Properties.

Escalating rents in London, the south-east and in towns along the M4 corridor such as Maidenhead and Slough, have meant companies looking elsewhere for premises in a bid to reduce costs, a trend called decentralisation, first witnessed in the late 1980s.

In addition, the growth of "footloose" companies - firms whose location is not geographically dictated, such as call centres - has meant many national businesses setting up offices, and even headquarters, in places like Worcester.

"We're hoping to attract a firm looking for national or regional headquarters who want the benefits of a local workforce and a pleasant working environment in an attractive location," said Andrew Venables, associate partner at GVA Grimley which is joint letting agent, along with Knight Welch Bryce.

He said the three office buildings, two of 31,479sq ft and one of 24,247sq ft, could potentially house around 800 employees, depending on the kind of business.

He said the surge in office development in Worcester had "put it on the map".

"Worcester is in the stages of seeing quite encouraging office development taking place which was not the case previously," Mr Venables added.

"It's not seen itself as a major office location but with developments such as the Berkeley Business Park near Junction 6 of the M5, that's changing. It's good for Worcester. It's helped put Worcester on the map."

He said that in addition to the trend for decentralisation and the emergence of "footloose" companies, there was a "genuine need" on the part of some companies for "excellent" motorway access.

"As well, there may be local companies in the Worcester area that may wish to simply upgrade their offices," he said.

The new offices, which will be called Kings Court, are due for completion in September 2001, having "proceeded well" despite adverse weather conditions.