COMMERCIAL law firm Robert Muckle is moving into the heart of one of the region's city centre office developments.

The practice is taking over three floors of the seven-storey Time Central development, in Gallowgate, Newcastle, putting it at the centre of the regenerated west end of the city centre.

Building is scheduled to start on the development this month. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

Robert Muckle will move in early in 2008, when the firm will take over 44,000sq ft of space, incorporating three floors of offices, a rooftop terrace, business lounge, client meeting rooms, a seminar space designed to hold up to 70 people and dining room.

Senior partner Ian Gil- thorpe said: "This is an exciting move for us and these new offices reflect our commitment to giving our clients a quality service, our growth as a firm and our ambitions for the future.

"We will now have room to expand further and take on teams of lawyers as we grow."

The firm occupies 28,000sq ft on four floors of Norham House, New Bridge Street, where it has been for the past 50 years.

In the past 18 months, Robert Muckle has had to take over an extra 15,000sq ft of space to accommodate a 13 per cent rise in employee numbers. Last year saw further expansion, with a rise in turnover of 19 per cent.

"When the firm moved in the 1950s, Norham House was a new building, right in the centre of town, and it has proved an excellent location for us over the years," said Mr Gilthorpe.

"However, we now need a building that can provide modern amenities, such as air conditioning, state-of-the-art training areas, shower facilities and a cafe for our people."

The announcement of the move came only days after Robert Muckle became a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), bringing it into line with other major law firms in the country.

Mr Gilthorpe said: "Over a number of years we have built a distinctive reputation in the legal marketplace as a dynamic firm with expertise in a number of key commercial areas.

"The conversion to being an LLP and the office move lay the necessary groundwork for the next phase of our development. It is a very exciting time for our people and signals the confidence of our partners in our future development."

Hanro Group has announced plans for a £70m, 1.6-acre scheme on a nearby site and the 14-acre former Scottish and Newcastle Brewery site has been sold for the creation of a research, education and business development.