A removal firm is on the move, clearing the way for a major office development in a city centre.

GB Liners has been granted planning permission to switch its current North Laine site for a new home in the Woodingdean Business Park.

Brighton and Hove City Council approved the 1,197 square metre warehouse and offices in Seaview Way.

GB Liners, which specialises in removal and storage, is set to employ an extra 27 people as a result of the move.

And the move means that the way is now clear for a major office development at the GB Liners warehouse in Blackman Street in the North Laine.

Planning permission has already been granted at the site for a 3,327 square metre office development.

The Blackman Street scheme is handled by Flude Commercial in Brighton on behalf of the architects BPL Group.

The plan includes the demolition of the current warehouse in Blackman Street.

Years of planning

GB Liners managing director Roy Bartup said the firm hoped to move into the new facility by this time next year.

He said: “We have been planning this for around ten years but there are not many suitable places in Brighton. We are pleased to have found this site.”

Andrew Halfacree, director at Flude, said the planning consent for the new GB Liners warehouse in Woodingdean will clear the way for a much-needed office development in the heart of the city.

He said: “We needed GB Liners to get permission in order for us to realise our project. Now we need the council to play ball as the landlord at the site.”

Tony Mernagh, executive director at the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, said the move is long overdue.

He said: “This is great news because the narrow streets of the North Laine aren’t made for pantechnicons and the existing site has planning consent for conversion into offices exactly where people want to work close to the city centre.”

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