WORK on the third phase of the Media Centre in Huddersfield is to start in the next few weeks.

Kirklees Council has awarded a £3.5m contract for a five-storey glass building which will be completed in just under 12 months.

Fifty-two offices will be included.

The building work will use conventional technology in an innovative design to reduce use of power to heat and cool the building.

Small businesses in the town's media and creative sector will rent the office suites.

Ken Gillespie, the council's director of regeneration, expressed his delight at the imminent start of the project.

He said: "The council has worked hard to get this project to this stage.

"Along with other public and private projects now coming on stream in Huddersfield, it will make an important contribution to the town's renaissance."

Cheshire firm Bardsley Construction has been awarded the building contract.

The building will be managed for the council by Media Centre Network, the operator of Huddersfield Media Centre.

Deborah Walsh, customer services manager at Media Centre Network, said: "This new building will further raise awareness of the growing importance of creative, digital and media business to the local and regional economy."

The project is supported by grants from the European Regional Development Fund and Yorkshire Forward, the regional development agency for Yorkshire and the Humber.

The building will be ready for occupation in April next year.