Warwickshire County Council is to occupy part of the first major office development in Warwick for more than 15 years.

The authority will take two buildings totalling 35,000 sq ft at Shepherd Developments' £16 million Saltisford Office Park project.

Construction of the 20,000 sq ft and 15,000 sq ft buildings, which the county council is buying, will begin this summer. On completion next March up to 350 staff will be relocated there from outdated office accommodation in several locations in the centre of Warwick where the County Council will retain its Shire Hall headquarters.

The new buildings will be prominently positioned on the three-acre park fronting Saltisford.

Richard Whitehouse, senior development manager, who runs Shepherd Developments' Midland office, said: "It is a great boost to the development that we have secured the county council as the first owner occupier.

"The new buildings will enable the county to become even more efficient in its operations by providing its officers with the calibre of building and quality of space vital in today's office market place."

Councillor Alan Cockburn, corporate services portfolio holder, said: "The sale of our existing offices in Northgate Street will substantially fund the purchase of these new modern offices and open floor plans enable more efficient use of the building."

Wareing & Co and CB Richard Ellis represented Shepherd Developments, which is the commercial property development arm of Shepherd Building Group.