A daily newspaper office is set to become part of a university, it was confirmed yesterday.

The Lincolnshire Echo is to leave its Brayford Wharf home of the past 20 years for new offices in the same street.

Yesterday the University of Lincoln issued a statement confirming that it is buying the Echo building, with the purchase expected to be completed by July.

The offices are set to be converted for use by business studies and law students, with the first intake to move into the building in 2010.

Lincolnshire Media, which publishes the Echo, is planning to move a few hundred metres down the road into the currently vacant ground floor of Witham Wharf, an apartment building.

The Echo’s editor, Jon Grubb, is upbeat about what the change will mean for the newspaper.

In an interview with university student newspaper The Linc, he said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to move into premises furnished with the kind of new technology that is vital for a modern multimedia company.”

“Since the closure of the printing press, the company no longer needs the space offered at its present location,” he added.

The University said in a statement: “The university is in the process of acquiring the Lincolnshire Echo building as a business and law faculty building.

“Terms have been agreed, a planning application for change of use has been submitted and the university and vendors’ solicitors are making good progress with the necessary legal due diligence checks. It is anticipated that completion of the acquisition will take place in July 2009.”

There had been speculation that the Lincoln School of Journalism would be the likeliest candidate to move into the building given the newspaper connection.

But its head, professor John Tulloch said: “The Journalism school is not moving. We are very happy here in our excellent location, next to Siren FM and with our seven great newsrooms and handsome academic accommodation on the third floor.”