BARCLAYS has found a new home in Poole after announcing plans to develop and lease a new 10,000 sq ft building in West Quay Road.

It follows the bank's decision to shed 1,100 jobs in Poole and quit Barclays House under a restructuring of its operations.

Around 850 workers are expected to occupy the new building which is set to open in 2010.

The South West of England Regional Development Agency is drawing up plans to help mitigate Barclays' decision to axe 1,100 jobs.

Swerda Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole head of operations Bruce Voss said: "We will now be looking very closely at ways in which to respond to the major economic shock that this announcement has had on the town.

"We are seeking ways in which we can work with other agencies to minimise the impact that this decision will have."

The huge job cuts at Barclays are a major recruitment opportunity for Bournemouth and Poole's major financial services companies.

Rapidly expanding over-50s insurer RIAS has vowed to remain in Bournemouth. It employs just under 1,200 staff - 850 of them at Wessex Fields.

RIAS managing director Janet Connor said: "We are committed to keeping call centres in the UK and Bournemouth (in particular)."

The group had "absolutely no intention" of moving "such important" customer operations overseas.

LV= (Liverpool Victoria) at the Frizzell roundabout has also vowed not to outsource customer contact overseas. All its customer contact centres are UK-based.

"We are also a growing business, having announced a number of significant new management appointments and transactions over the past year," said an LV= spokesman.

"Last September we acquired ABC Insurance and in January this year announced our intention to acquire Britannia Rescue, the UK's fourth largest breakdown service."