Regional publisher Johnston Press has announced that its Portsmouth-based daily The News is to move to new offices this summer.

The title has been based at The News Centre in Hilsea since 1969 but bosses say the building is now longer fit for purpose.

But although the paper’s print operation will continue to be based at Hilsea, journalists and other staff are to move to a new office at a 100-acre business park a mile away.

The newspaper will have a ground-floor presence at the new premises at 1000 Lakeside which it will share with more than 70 other businesses.

An interior shot of the ground floor at the new Lakeside premises where The News will have a front office

Karl Dimmock, managing director of Johnston Press South said: ‘This is an exciting move for everybody associated with The News. Within the last six months we have relaunched the newspaper, launched The News as a tablet app on Apple and Android and redesigned our website.

“As a dynamic, forward-thinking business we want to be working within a dynamic, forward-thinking office environment – and that is what 1000 Lakeside provides.”

Editor Mark Waldron added: “While it will be a wrench to leave behind many happy memories from our time at the News Centre, our staff will certainly enjoy working from our new base.

“And I hope our readers and local businesses see this move as a bold statement that we are staying embedded in our news heartland and showing our commitment to being around for many, many more years to come.”

A story about the move published in yesterday’s paper said that “the rigours of the last 43 years” and the “changing face of the business” meant the curent building was “no longer fit for purpose.”

It described 1000 Lakeside as “ideal for the modern-thinking, multi-media publishing company.”

The News will join more than 70 other businesses located at the 100-acre park, including The Southern Co-operative, Market Makers, Babcock, Handelsbanken and Capita.

It will have a front counter and shop service for all readers and customers on the ground floor, while all editorial, advertising, newspaper sales and finance and IT support teams will be based on the third floor.

1000 Lakeside is located on the Lakeside North Harbour business parkand provides high specification office space and wide-ranging facilities including a cafe, meeting rooms, atrium, extensive car parking and complementary shuttle bus service.

Nick Turner, asset management director at Highcross, said: ‘We are delighted by The News’ decision to move its operations to 1000 Lakeside.  The paper plays an important role in the city’s business community and its new location at the heart of Lakeside North Harbour reflects the success and dynamism of the business park and adds another dimension to the breadth of companies already located here.’

The printing operation, which produces a number of Johnston Press titles from across England as well as Local World newspapers, will stay on the current Hilsea site.

The News said it remained “committed for the pages of the paper to continue to roll off these presses.”

The exterior of the new North Harbour offices