COUNCIL chiefs are “in discussions” with Barclays about what happens to the bank’s landmark Poole building when staff are moved out this year.

As revealed in the Daily Echo, Barclays plans to move the majority of its 700 Poole staff to Bournemouth when it shuts the building after 46 years.

The huge eight-storey building with multi-storey car park is in an area earmarked in the local plan for town centre regeneration.

Cllr Phil Broadhead, deputy leader of BCP Council and its cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Barclays House on Wimborne Road in Poole is a very large site with lots of potential and its redevelopment is a consideration as part of the Local Plan, where we are engaging with a wide range of local people, businesses and community groups to find out the widest possible agreement on developing the area.

“There are clearly a number of options for this site – from redevelopment as part of Poole Town Centre regeneration, to seeking new uses for the current buildings.

“We are already in discussions with Barclays to explore a number of different options and best uses for the site. We would obviously encourage anyone to submit any thoughts or ideas for the location through the consultation process via the BCP Council website.

“Furthermore, it was very encouraging to see so many of the staff who were based here are being relocated within the BCP area – showing Barclays’ commitment to those jobs and their ongoing investment in our towns.”

Barclays says 429 of the 708 permanent jobs at Barclays House are set to be moved to The Helm in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth, this year. Another 174 will be relocated to other key sites, with a net loss of around 50 jobs.

It has identified around 40 jobs locally for staff at risk of redundancy.

Other employers using office space in the building have been given six months’ notice, in line with their contracts.

Barclays has also said four staff at its wealth management and investment office in County Gates, Westbourne, are in line to move to Bournemouth. Its Barclays Eagle lab, which supports start-up businesses, will stay at County Gates.

Barclays House opened in 1976 and employed 2,500 people at its peak.