NEW money-making offices built by Colchester Council will be home to a long-established law firm.

The council wants to develop the southern part of Sheepen Road car park into a 19,700 sq ft office space to bring in income.

It has exchanged pre-let contracts with legal and financial advisers Birkett Long.

The council would not say how much is being spent on the project due to commercial confidentially.

Mark Cory, councillor responsible for resources at Colchester Council, said: “We are delighted to have Birkett Long, a prestigious and well respected firm of legal and financial advisers, as our new long-term tenant.

“During the recent difficult financial times, we have looked to become more commercially minded.

“The council has held back from cutting frontline services and favoured not to raise council tax, instead investing internally in council assets and opportunities within the borough.

“The Sheepen Road development is a great example of this.

“It shows how the council is becoming more commercially focussed in order to deliver its borough wide priorities.”

A planning application for the Sheepen Place Office Development scheme is due to be submitted at the end of next month.

Adrian Livesley, managing partner at Birkett Long, which will lease the entire building, said: “We employ 180 people across Essex and our firm continues to expand.

“We are outgrowing our space in Colchester, so we look forward to seeing these plans come to fruition.

“We are all excited about this project and the future of Birkett Long in Colchester and across Essex.”

The plan was suggested because the car park is expected to be surplus to requirements because of the new park and ride.

The council also hopes to secure planning consent to build another office building on site as part of the second phase of the project.

Birkett Long, which can trace its history to 1821, are based in Crouch Street, Colchester, and have offices in Basildon and Chelmsford.