SOUTHGATE House in Devizes will not be sold off aas health officials plan to base all staff there from the two local Primary Care Trusts.

The building, formerly the headquarters of the defunct Wiltshire Health Authority, has been the headquarters of the Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust since that organisation was formed in April 2002.

Following the appointment of a joint chief executive of that trust and West Wiltshire PCT, officials have decided to move West Wiltshire staff to Southgate House.

About 30 PCT staff are based at the West Wiltshire base on the White Horse Business Park in Trowbridge where the lease on that building runs out in 2007.

Currently around 250 people work at Southgate House including PCT staff, staff from Wiltshire County Council's adult and community services department and Wiltshire Shared Services Consortium which provides the administration support for county health trusts.

To free up some space in Southgate House around six staff who work for the Wiltshire team of the Health Protection Agency are relocating to part of Elizabeth ward in Devizes Hospital where patients from Savernake Hospital are. The move will take place once the new Savernake Hospital in Marlborough opens during the summer and the ward, will be converted into offices.