A DORCHESTER-based housing association says residents will benefit from new offices for its staff.

Staff at Magna Housing have moved into new offices on the site of the association’s old repairs building.

The employees had moved out of the site on Railway Triangle Industrial Estate in the county town over a year ago and since then it has redeveloped the old building so it can provide a better service to its residents.

Yogesh Vadgama, head of Magna’s technical services department, was responsible for the project. He said the costs saved by redeveloping the old site rather than moving into brand-new offices would ultimately benefit residents.

Mr Vadgama said: “The old building leaked and was desperately in need of work, but bits of it were okay. So we stripped off all the external fabric of the building and re-built around the existing structure. “It’s very important that we use our resources, including money, wisely and carefully, giving the best value for money we can.

“We decided not to move into brand-new offices, but to redevelop our old office site.

“Doing this cost us less money, so we have more money to spend on looking after our tenants and providing a good maintenance and repairs service.”

Graham Colls, group chief executive, who officially opened the building, said: “We celebrated our 25th anniversary last year and we plan to be here to celebrate our 50th. “This new building goes a long way to making sure that we have offices that are fit for purpose and will see us through those next 25 years.”

Trade supervisor Selena Parsons added: “The offices are really lovely and modern. But best of all, we are all in one building together and it makes it much easier to work with other departments and provide the best service possible for our residents.”