A NEW £9.5 million office block will create hundreds of jobs, a council has said.

The four-storey development on the former Civic Centre car park in Ham Road, Shoreham, was recently finished.

It is now home to communications company The Focus Group, which hopes to create at least 150 jobs at the site.

Adur District Council leader Neil Parkin said he was “delighted” to see the new building open.

He said: “In this current climate, it is extremely rare for local authorities to design and build offices to meet the local need for high quality employment space.

“But this deal shows that we are prepared to think creatively about how we can use our assets to get the best possible return for local residents.

“I want to thank Focus for its great commitment to Adur, investing a substantial sum to relocate within the area which will provide local people with employment.”

Ralph Gilbert, of Focus Group, said it was an “exciting time” for the company.

He said: “Even just a few weeks into our tenancy at our new home, we are already starting to reap the benefits.

“We have said all along that we wanted to make this building one of the best offices in the region so we can attract the best staff and showcase groundbreaking tech.”