THE wraps are about to come off one of the most impressive new office frontages in Worcester.

Estate agent Knight Frank is relocating its city headquarters from Sidbury to a prominent site overlooking the Cathedral with floor-to-ceiling windows making the most of the spectacular setting.

The firm has taken over the former Barclays Bank premises at the Lychgate roundabout and in the space of two months, it has carried out a £300,000-plus conversion to turn the building into a state-of-the-art centre for the buying and selling of up-market properties.

The move has been made to cater for the rising number of staff with Knight Frank in Worcester and the increase in houses it has to sell. However, it will also put the company in a new high profile location directly opposite the city's best-known landmark.

"We like to think this is the prestigious end of Worcester," said senior partner Jonathan Bengough.

In all, 14 staff will be involved in the move. The firm's existing office at City Wells House on the corner of Sidbury and Edgar Street closes tomorrow and the weekend will be spent transferring to the new addres - officially, 5 College Street - which will open for business on Monday.

"Our team has significantly grown over the last five years, reflecting the increasing number of new developments and private instructions that are taking us from strength-to-strength," added Mr Bengough .

"Our new offices, prominently placed beside the Cathedral, will allow us to provide a greater and more comprehensive service to our existing residential developments and evolving private client portfolio.

"The relocation will also help us to attract and cater for a very exciting potential client base for the future in what is set to be another record year of growth."

Worcester has long been a top location for house-hunters and over the past year Knight Frank has acted for over 300 private sellers moving from contemporary apartments, cottages, barn conversions and townhouses from £150,000 to over £500,000 through to noteworthy houses and country estates commanding record values in excess of £2m.

Knight Frank's regional offices in Birmingham, Stratford-on-Avon, Worcester and Cirencester, sold more than 2000 properties in 2004. with a gross value of approximately £700m.

Mr Bengough said that a number of high profile, new apartment and townhouse developments were expected to be for sale in Worcester during 2005.

Names to watch out for include new additions from Chase Homes and Neil Grinnall Homes, which will accompany the number of existing landmark schemes that are already capturing the interest of buyers wishing to live in and around the city.

"Knight Frank prides itself on being able to provide a premium service to successfully market unique, historic and high value residences with the back up of a comprehensive national and global office network," added Mr Bengough.