INTERNATIONAL accounting giant Pricewaterhouse-Coopers is planning a £1.5m revamp of its Hampshire operations.

The firm, one of accounting's famed "big four", is planning to relocate all its 360 Southampton staff into one building in Ocean Village, where bosses aim to create a futuristic £1.5m office where noone will have their own desk.

Instead, desks will have to be booked in advance and even senior partner Geoff Briggs could find his office - one of only a handful in the new set up - booked-up if he isn't quick enough.

Fed-up at the costly waste of space created by the empty desks of staff visiting clients, managers are planning to have significantly fewer desks than staff, with the ratio as low as three to one in some departments.

An ultra-modern open plan environment complete with break out rooms, the latest technology and flexible spaces with drop down screens is to be created inside the waterfront Savannah House building, next door to rival firm BDO Stoy Hayward.

Other features include a contemplation room for prayer and personal meditation, showers to encourage people to cycle in and dedicated welcome teams in client lounges.

PWC's offices in The Quay on the other side of Ocean Village are to be vacated after the move in July.

Geoff Briggs said: "With the office growing at a rate of 10 per cent per year on average, it is necessary to have a modern and flexible environment that will continue to accommodate our changing needs. We have a strong and well-respected service here and this development only serves to heighten our position within the local business community.

"We are really excited by the designs that we are seeing at present, and feel that our investment demonstrates the commitment that we have to our staff's well-being as well as to the continued growth and success of our Southampton business."