A FORMER office block is being demolished to make way for redevlopment.

Drivers on the A127 and in Christopher Martin Road, Basildon, will have seen the building formerly used by First Data being flattened.

Work on the demolition started after First Data, which specialises in credit and debit card transactions and financial services, moved into the former Visteon UK offices in Endeavour Drive.

Only First Data call centre staff are left at the Christopher Martin Road site.

Roger Bracken, managing director of First Data in the UK and western Europe, said the firm had not decided the future of the Christopher Martin Road site yet, but said it could be redeveloped.

He said: “It makes sense for us to take down some of the property we have on that site which is empty, because we're not using that space.

“It will be worth more to us as a clear site for redevelopment.”

Meanwhile the former factory site of Visteon UK, also in Christopher Martin Road, is now being marketed by owner Prologis.

Jim O’Connell, of Glenny, which is marketing the former factory site, said Prologis was looking to rent the site and could create a bespoke warehouse for new occupiers.