A regional daily is set to move from its current offices in the New Year – after a hunt lasting more than 12 months.

The Sunderland Echo is set to leave its present headquarters, on the city’s Pennywell Industrial Estate, which has been up for sale since November 2013.

No official announcement has yet been made by the Echo’s parent company Johnston Press as to where the new base will be or when the transfer will take place, but the departure from Pennywell has been confirmed by JP chief executive Ashley Highfield.

The move is part of the company’s rolling programme of office moves and closures introduced over the past two years as part of a bid to dispose of surplus buildings and improve working environments for staff.

The Sunderland Echo building pictured last November after the for sale sign went up.

In a message to all JP staff, Ashley said: “Another important part of our transformation is the investment we have made in our buildings in the last few years – getting our offices up to scratch so we have the right environment to work in.

“From Edinburgh to Portsmouth close to half of us have already moved to better premises, or at least seen our working environment improve significantly, with Sunderland making the next move in early 2015.”

The Echo has been based at the current Echo House offices, pictured above, since 1976, but they were put up for sale after the decision to move into new premises was made last year.

At the time, managing director Stephen Plews made clear that the paper would be remaining on Wearside.

He said: “We have always worked in the heart of the Sunderland area, and we always will.

“We remain committed to Sunderland and the North East, and firmly believe that remaining close to our readers and advertisers is key to our business and ongoing success.”

The printing plant at the Pennywell site was closed in 2012, with production moving to Sheffield as a result.

The Echo is currently in the process of undergoing a change of editor, with John Szymanski due to depart in a restructure with his role to be taken over by JP’s North East group editor Joy Yates.