Why we needed to move

We needed to move because our old premises, situated a mile away on Romsey Road, were no longer suited to our needs. They had been built to accommodate up to 5 000 staff plus large printing presses and map storage facilities, in the days when map creation and production was far more labour-intensive.

Today we are a 21^st century digital business and changes in technology over the past 40 years mean that we now employ far fewer people than we did in 1969. Our new building has been designed specifically to meet the needs of modern map making.

As part of the overall contract with Kier, who built our new head office, the old Romsey Road site will be redeveloped. Kier plan to demolish the William Roy building and replace it with housing and small light-industrial or mixed-use buildings. Compass House and Crabwood House, currently occupied by HM Customs & Excise, NHS Shared Services and Maersk Line, will be retained and refurbished.