JOB losses are expected following the decision by a construction firm to merge two Kent offices into one. Ballast Construction is closing its regional offices at Hall Place, Harbledown, near Canterbury, and Bromley, and centralising its operations at Crossways at Dartford.

Staff were invited to apply for positions at the new headquarters but have been warned that some redundancies are inevitable.

The move will affect around 140 people in both offices. Some 70 staff work at Hall Place, a site earmarked by Canterbury City Council for a fourth park and ride location.

The decision was taken for “commercial” considerations, director Doug Barrat said. Having two offices in the same area had created duplication and it was inefficient to operate from two offices in the same area under the same management.

He insisted the move had nothing to do with the park and ride proposal, although Ballast owns the freehold of Hall Place. “We took a commercial decision that we are going to put it altogether,” he said. “We’ve found some new offices in Dartford and we are decanting from Hall Place and Bromley and putting everyone together under one roof.”

He said the move would happen over the next month or two, warning that “a few jobs will be lost.”

He added: “Most of the staff will be going to Dartford but there will be some administrative staff who won’t be able to manage the journey. I’m afraid that’s an inevitable consequence when you do these sort of things."