S HARRISON Construction Ltd has begun the final phase of building at York Science Park, which will complete seven years of continuous development at the park and take the total number of units built by the Malton firm on site to 13.

The development of York Science Park has created more than 1,000 jobs in the last seven years and is the result of a successful working partnership between York Science Park - a joint venture between the University of York and P&O Developments - and S Harrison Construction.

Work includes providing offices for the Strategic Health Authority, construction of the Biocentre and an extension to the Innovation Centre, as well as a retail development at the university.

The £2 million, fourth phase of the development, which began on March 21, will see the provision of two, 10,000 sq ft office units.

ProfessorTony Robards, York Science Park chairman, said: "The York Science Park development has not only been hugely important for York and Yorkshire but it is also seen as one of the leading science parks in the UK.

"This is credit to all involved.

"We have certainly been extremely pleased with how little disruption the development has caused and with our working partnership with developers, P&O Developments and construction company, S Harrison Construction."

S Harrison Group chairman, Martyn Harrison, said: "Providing the right premises - particularly for young and start-up businesses - is key to a science park's success.

"Over the last seven years, we have used our construction expertise to deliver state of the art office accommodation that will provide businesses based at York Science Park with the facilities they need."

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, April 28, 2005