DEVELOPERS are planning a prestige new £9m office building in Southampton city centre's thriving business district.

Using one of the last remaining significant undeveloped sites in the city centre, a Coventry-based developer plans to erect a five-storey 30,000sq ft block on Dorset Street, just off Charlotte Place.

Sited on a former BP petrol station, detailed planning permission has been given for the project, which will eventually see up to 300 people working in the finished offices.

Already, before a builder has set foot on site, negotiations are said to be ongoing with unnamed prospective tenants.

Deeley Properties, based in Coventry, has joined forces with London-based Drawbridge Securities to form the Dorset Street Partnership and push forward the plans.

The partnership is currently negotiating with a contractor to start work on the redevelopment and aims for work to begin in June, with tenants moving in by autumn 2006.

Peter Deeley, chairman of Deeley Properties, said: "This is one of the last few remaining undeveloped sites in the heart of Southampton's central business district.

"We feel confident that it will prove attractive to occupiers due to its extremely prominent location adjacent to a main arterial route into the city, the quality of design and the ability to create a self-contained office building with the benefit of secure on-site parking."

The Southampton offices of King Sturge and Austin Adams have been appointed as letting agents.

Mr Deeley added: "Both agents are confident that the current level of demand and limited supply should ensure that there is keen competition to acquire space in the building.

"Even before we have started marketing the building we have already had discussions with a couple of companies very interested in taking space."