Staff at a Bradford chemicals distributor have transferred from their city centre offices into modern open-plan accommodation on the outskirts of the city.

Although smaller than their former Little Germany base, the new office will enable staff at Univar Europe (formerly Ellis & Everard) to be accommodated on one floor in an open-plan layout, which the firm says is in keeping with its open and communal way of working.

The new offices at Aquarius House, Midpoint, Thornbury, also have hot-desking facilities to provide staff from across Europe and the rest of the UK with a base when working away from their normal location.

Univar has taken a 15-year lease on the second and first floor of Aquarius House, totalling more than 14,000 sq ft.

Acting on behalf of Keyland Developments Ltd, DTZ and joint agency Jones Lang LaSalle have secured the letting.

Adam Hodgson, associate director at Jones Lang LaSalle, said: “Univar’s relocation from the centre of Bradford to Aquarius House is a fantastic result for the Midpoint development. With the ground floor of the building currently under offer, there now only remains 7,000 sq ft of available space in the building.”

James Smithies, development consultant at Keyland, said: “It’s great to see a quality building occupied by a key tenant who appreciates the excellent amenities and facilities available at Midpoint.”

James Moran, property manager for Univar Europe, added: “The large floor plates at Aquarius House have given our business the ability to reorganise its operational activity on a single floor.

“The good car parking provision and excellent bus links with both Bradford and Leeds enable our staff to improve their commute and our business to expand into the Leeds region.”

Phillip Dawson, DTZ associate director, said: “The Leeds out-of-town market was at an all-time low in 2009 with take-up of 245,000 sq ft. With quarter one take-up at 61,000 sq ft, the Univar deal forms a significant and welcome transaction in the out-of-town market.”