WORK is nearing completion on the transformation of a former church and associated parish rooms into a business centre.

The first tenant is signed up to take 2,500sq ft of the 6,500sq ft of available space at the former United Reformed Church, parish rooms and school, in Dundas Street, Richmond.

Zetland Square is the latest project carried out by Zetland Estates, which is responsible for the transformation of Aske Hall into a thriving business centre.

Zetland Estates spokesman Phil Upton said: "We are pleased to have already signed up our first tenants."

Financial software specialists thecitysecret plans to move from its offices above the Choices video store in Richmond Market Place to two offices in the development in August.

The company, which writes financial software for leading banks and other institutions, hopes the move will lead to expansion.

Managing director Martin Worner said: "When I set up the business three-and-a-half years ago, the rooms above Choices met my needs.

"However, the business has grown rapidly in that time, and the two offices we currently have are cramped for the 11 staff I now employ.

"We plan to move in to one office in Dundas Street first, with the option to move in to the second when it is needed.

"If we continue to grow at the rate we have done over the past three years, I do not expect it will be long before we have to move in to the second office."

Mr Worner believes the new offices will help attract financial experts from the City.

He said: "One of the reasons I chose to move my business into Zetland Square is because I did not want to move out of Richmond.

"Our rural location is an excellent selling-point when we are looking to recruit staff from the City of London.

"It is also very close to the town centre, allowing people to walk in to work rather than facing long commutes.

"The overriding philosophy behind thecitysecret is to work in the financial markets sector of software development while enjoying a good quality of life."

Mr Upton said: "I am sure Mr Worner and his staff will be very happy in their new offices.

"The £500,000 development is nearing completion, and we are actively marketing the remaining office space to let, which includes the 1,600sq ft church and 800sq ft of space in the former parish hall.

"The success of the project in Richmond town centre is down to the skills we have learnt while refurbishing former farm buildings on the Aske estate.

"There, we have not only proven we can refurbish buildings to a very high standard, but also attract a high calibre of business to a rural location."

www.businessecho.co.uk/ commercialproperty.html

Published: ??/??/2004