A MULTI-MILLION pound revamp of a top Government department's York headquarters is set to get under way as more than 200 civil service workers prepare to move to the city.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) offices at King's Pool, Peasholme Green, could shortly undergo a massive "refreshment" as the centre gears up to welcome relocated staff from London and the South East.

A Defra spokesman told The Press that new open plan office space, new rooms and other maintenance work would be carried out over the coming months subject to planning permission.

He assured residents living nearby that no work would be carried out on the outside of the building, with all improvements being internal.

The Press reported, in May, 2005, how civil service staff were being relocated to York as part of a drive to redistribute Government employees from London and South East England across the country.

The news came as a welcome boost for a city which had only recently lost 300 civil service posts when the decision was taken to close the York Pensions Centre.

It was reported that the new posts, then believed to be 110 jobs, would be in Defra's property, human resources and finance divisions. Defra said that will now be more than 200.

"There will be a refurbishment and refreshment of the building. There will be more staff who are going to be moving to York from other sites like London and the South East.

"We have 600 people who already work there and that is going to increase by another 200 plus. In the coming months, the work will need to be done on the building to accommodate the new people. It will make the office more open plan. Not all of the decisions have yet been taken but it is likely to be a multi-million pound revamp."

City of York Council leader Steve Galloway, who also has responsibility for economic development, said: "We are delighted that work is starting on a project that will bring more jobs to the city.

"It is important that York's economy continues to diversify and that we attract durable, well paid, new jobs to the city.

"This is another significant step towards achieving that goal."