A BUILDING contractor has brought forward its expansion plans and moved to bigger premises in the York area.

F Parkinson Ltd, which had offices in Elvington, has chosen S Harrison Development Ltd’s newly-completed Escrick Business Park to double its size at a new base for its Yorkshire and north eastern operations, occupying 2,600 sq ft of the development.

The successful 75-year-old firm has ridden the recession better than many in the construction industry.

It employs 30 people across the north east, eight of whom will move into the new Escrick offices next month and there are plans to recruit four more people there next year.

Steve Jackson, regional director of F Parkinson Ltd, puts its success down to sound management and a commitment to customer care with quality as the core principle.

He said: “As we plan our expansion across Yorkshire, we needed to upgrade our image to better reflect those values. Escrick Business Park fits the bill perfectly. It’s well designed with a good specification and build quality, and it has excellent road links across the region, away from York’s ring-road congestion.”

Parkinson has enjoyed a long relationship with North Yorkshire County Council as well as York. It has undertaken a number of projects across a range of sectors including education, health, commercial, industrial and leisure. The move has been welcomed by Denise Stuart, chief executive of inward investment organisation york-england.com said: “It is great news that a business, particularly in the construction sector, finds itself still expanding and making a commitment to our region in a top-class location.

“We really do need more of them.”

Office and industrial units are still available freehold or leasehold at Escrick Business Park – with office units and warehousing/industrial units from 1350 sq ft. For details, phone the agents, Lawrence Hannah, on 01904 659800.