THE firm developing the Royal William Yard has completed another huge building, and already seen businesses moving in.

Marketing consultancy Bluestone 360 is now based in the newly-completed Mills Bakery building, and developer Urban Splash says it has other businesses about to move in, with 4,000sq ft of floorspace under offer.

In addition, national restaurant chain Loungers is going to open Seco Lounge in units 12 to 14 of the building's west wing, covering 3,500sq ft, .

Urban Splash says it's doubly delighted – because it also wants to encourage the public into the yard.

This year it will be staging events to entice people to look around and enjoy the 15-acre site.

Last month, a Plymouth Arts Centre event brought hundreds of people to the site, and Emily Jones, associate director at Urban Splash, said: "It's part of a calendar that I hope will bring people to the yard this year.

"The gates are open and people can come and roam around. We'd love people to use it."

The Grade-I listed Mills Bakery is the third of the massive former Royal Navy victualling buildings to be developed, following transformation of the waterfront Clarence and Brewhouse blocks, both of which are full.

The three-storey Mills Bakery features a mix of 86 apartments, 33,600sq ft of office space, and up to 40,000sq ft of retail and leisure room, designed by Totnes- based architecture firm GYA.

"It's a fantastic space by the water," said Miss Jones. "People can come in and touch and feel it and see the office space. It's a really exciting time for the yard."

She said the Loungers deal was 'the first of a chain of lettings we hope will be coming in this year' and added: "I think businesses are changing the way they look at office space. This building is great fun and exciting."

Urban Splash was appointed 10 years ago by the South West of England Regional Development Agency to transform the yard.

It originally planned to complete the development by 2014, but last year told The Herald that date was 'ambitious'.

Miss Jones said the New Cooperage would be developed next, although there was no start date as yet, followed by the Melville and Cooperage buildings.

The New Cooperage was earmarked for business space, she said, and added: "We would love Melville to be a hotel in time.

"With the Cooperage it would be good, in my mind, if it was a cultural hub.

"Our aspirations are to keep rolling with the buildings.

"If we get a great hotelier on board quickly it might speed it up."

The 6,000sqft Slaughterhouse is a shell and available for let in that condition, Miss Jones said.

To tour the yard, or for commercial inquiries, contact Miss Jones on 0121 747 8000.