THE future of one of Poole's landmark buildings is in doubt, the Daily Echo can reveal.

Barclays House - which employs 2,500 people in Poole town centre - is the subject of a major review by the bank.

Bosses were due to meet today with officials from Poole and Bournemouth councils to discuss the future of Barclays House.

Barclays stresses that it is committed to keeping jobs in the conurbation but warns that 30-year-old Barclays House is too old.

Barclays spokesman Jon Logie said it was not a question of health and safety or disabled access.

But he warned: "Barclays House is no longer going to meet our long-term needs.

"The building as it currently stands would not be fit for purpose in the future."

Modernisation is an option - as is a major new build elsewhere in the conurbation.

Barclays could do what Bournemouth building society Portman did when confronted with the same dilemma.

Portman demolished its Richmond Hill HQ then built a larger one on the same site.

Staff were moved out to neighbouring offices during the construction process.

Mr Logie said: "It's not going to happen overnight.

"If we went down the road of new build, nothing would happen until 2009 at the very earliest."

Barclays' review has been carried out by its in-house property experts.

A decision is expected in early 2007.

Factfile

  • Opened Jan 27 1976, costing an estimated £5 million.
  • 138ft high - comprising three octagonal towers linked by a central core.
  • Each tower comprises 12,000sq ft of office space.
  • It was originally planned to house 1,000 workers - today it has 2,500 staff.
  • Barclays House departments include UK banking; international retail and commercial banking; central support and the chief information office.