Quedgeley and Cheltenham-based legal experts Montpellier Legal are celebrating a planned expansion this summer into brand new premises in Stroud – and they say the new addition to the firm's London, Gloucester and Cheltenham presence will create more legal jobs at the company.

With paperwork that presumably will be processed in perfect order and record time, the expansion move will take the familiar name in Cheltenham's Brewery Quarter and Quedgeley's Kestrel Court into the bustling heart of the Cotswold town.

The firm, which also has offices in London, has committed to 2000 sq ft of office space currently under construction at Dransfield Properties' Five Valleys Shopping Centre, which continues to see a broader £30m refurbishment.

A team came to celebrate a traditional topping out ceremony at the site, joining key representatives from Dransfield Properties, who have been busy developing and remodelling the centre since 2019.

Andrew Malley, director of Dransfield Properties, said: "We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming Montpellier Legal. This is the culmination of a lot of work in terms of procuring the building and the firm will be bringing a professional business into the centre of Stroud."

Montpellier has indicated that the new office will signal more jobs for local people and in doing so boost support for Stroud's business community, he added.

A special topping-out ceremony marked the completion of the steel work by local contractors, S & C Bennett Construction, with two Union Jacks being draped on the scaffold to help mark the occasion.

The new building, which is due to be completed this summer, marks another milestone in the overall development of the previously rundown shopping centre.

A spokesman added: "Following an extensive refurbishment programme, the centre has been brought back to life becoming a thriving retail and leisure destination which includes a Borough Market style food hall, new high street names such as Sports Direct and JoJo Maman Bebe and high-quality independents, such as Sandersons Boutique department store.

"The centre is now a hub for people to work, live, shop and enjoy leisure time with an onsite bowling facility and VUE cinema completing the offer."

Montpellier Legal said they were drawn to the newly modernised development due to its location, good accessibility and range of amenities close by for both their team of specialist staff and clients to use.

With existing county branches already in Cheltenham & Gloucester, the firm siad it was encouraged by local agency demand to pick Stroud for their latest expansion – and can't wait to work within the local community, helping people to buy or sell their homes.

Nick Ponting, chief operating officer, said: "It's really exciting to launch our newest office in the town, specifically within Five Valleys. Bringing Montpellier Legal to Stroud will further enhance the experience for our clients and introducers."

Montpellier Legal work nationally and employ a team of more than 50 conveyancing specialists. With this expansion, the team said they are "on the look out for recruiting further talent and growing the Stroud Branch".