BUDGET glasses giant Specsavers is to take major new offices in Hampshire in the biggest deal in the region so far this year.

The Jersey-based glasses retailer plans to set up a hub for its worldwide expansion at the Solent Business Park at Whiteley.

The world’s largest privately owned opticians, Specsavers, intends to relocate existing staff from two offices in Eastleigh into 38,000 square foot new headquarters in Forum 6.

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The deal for the building, owned by property and insurance giant Prudential, was put together by commercial property agents King Sturge and Nottingham firm of surveyors Heb, which acted for Specsavers.

Nik Cox of King Sturge said: “It is wonderfully good news for the south coast. This is the biggest office deal in the south east of england in this quarter of 2009. It is also probably the best building on the south coast and that helped.

Specsavers’ director of property services, Hugo Lord, said: “This is a property acquisition to meet the growing demands of the business, not only in the UK, but internationally. The building is going to offer us the space to expand our IT facility and create additional space to meet the growing demands of the business as we continue to expand our operations around the world.

“Forum 6 met all expectations because it is a modern, self-contained, stand-alone building which we could have sole occupancy of and brand as Specsavers. It is a building of great quality and has an excellent infrastructure and services. We are also looking to support public transport services.”