VIRIDOR’S flagship building on Taunton’s Firepool site was hailed an example of “what a modern office should be” when it was officially opened on Friday (November 23).

Addressing guests at the opening of the development, Colin Drummond, chief executive of the waste management and recycling giant, praised its design in terms of customer focus and modern efficiency as an example to others.

In his speech, Taunton Deane Mayor Terry Hall said: “Securing a major national business with UK-wide operations is fantastic news for Firepool.

“The Taunton regeneration team continues to actively market the scheme to other commercial operators who will enjoy an unrivalled setting by the River Tone within a short riverside walk of the town centre facilities and mainline railway station.”

Cllr Hall also promoted the borough’s new inward investment website – tauntonmeansbusiness.co.uk

Ken Harvey, chairman of Pennon Group, which owns Viridor, told guests it was a “no brainer” to keep the headquarters in Taunton, and praised the ability and efforts of the company’s workforce.

He also joked that cricket-loving Mr Drummond had pulled rank when choosing offices as his boast a superb view of the pitch of the neighbouring County Ground.

About 100 employees are based at the new HQ, most of whom have moved from the company’s former base at Great Western House.

Mr Drummond later told the County Gazette that relocating other staff and creating more jobs would bring that number closer to building’s capacity of 200.

He added: “This is a terrific place within Taunton – it's less than two hours to London by train making it easy to go up and back in a day – likewise for Birmingham. We have all the infrastructure you could want with very decent computer access.

“We've not found it a problem getting to the motorway either – you can get there in five minutes. And you are not paying silly prices for office space – this is a terrific place for an HQ.”