STAFF at Swanwick's trouble-hit air traffic control centre will have to work in temporary buildings set in a car park - because their new HQ will not be built in time.

Bosses at National Air Traffic Services (Nats) last night revealed that up to 250 staff will work in the temporary buildings, which will be set in the new control centre's car park.

The embarrassing move is necessary because NATS is leaving its London head office next year - but a new head office in Whiteley will not be ready until 2004.

The £1.2m stopgap solution comes after Nats faced heavy criticism for a series of computer glitches and development hold-ups at the control centre, off Swanwick Lane.

Last night David Hemingway, Nats' General Manager, Services, admitted: "It is not an ideal solution".

But he added: "It is an interim solution but we think it is eminently workable."

Currently air traffic controllers work in the Swanwick centre while management and engineering staff are based in Kemble Street, Covent Garden, London.

Under Nats' plans around 350 London staff will be moved to Swanwick from May next year.

They will work there for around a year before being transferred to Whiteley, where NATS wants to build a vast new HQ.

Around 250 of the transferred London staff will work in temporary offices made up of two-storey "Rovacabin" units.

Mr Hemingway explained that the move was due to a decision to centralise Nats operations around Swanwick and Whiteley.

He said: "Originally we were planning to put a technical centre down here and put our headquarters in West London. But the board decided they wanted everyone down here."

Last night people living near the Swanwick control centre were told about the plans at a meeting in the Parish Rooms, Barnes Lane, Sarisbury.

Residents were told that the new staff will generate around 100 extra car movements an hour during peak times.

But they were assured that Nats staff would be told to stick to the speed limit and would be encouraged to use public transport and share lifts.

Fareham Borough Council will be asked to grant planning permission for the temporary offices in December.

Winchester City Council will be asked to grant planning permission for the Whiteley head office later this month.