"I am extremely pleased to have found a site so close to our current address, eliminating any relocation issues for staff," said Pira managing director Mike Hancock.

The move to the new site is expected to take six months. "That's because we're moving both offices and laboratories," he said. "There are analytical and testing labs, which take many months to re-equip."

Pira will occupy the new 18-acre site with ERA Technology. The Cleeve Road location will house all of Pira's current activities as well as offering potential for expansion.

Hancock said that ERA Technology, which owns the site, had more space than it needed and will effectively be Pira's landlord.

He added that Pira is looking to capitalise on its new ownership and international structure. "We're looking for something like 10% growth in 2005."

Pira's existing Randalls Road site was sold for redevelopment to an unnamed housing developer in conjunction with a public body planning a training centre on the site, on the 15 March.

Hancock said it was sold for an undisclosed sum "that's confidential to our owners". But he added that it was within line of market expectations. A figure of 7m was hoped to be raised by the sale of the property earlier in the year (PrintWeek, 18 March).

Outline planning permission had been approved for a mixture of commercial and residential buildings.  Mole Valley District Council's planning department confirmed it was expecting a new planning application in the next few weeks. Hancock added that new owner Ciba Speciality Chemicals, which bought it earlier this year had "left it to its own devices" determine strategy and future direction.