THE hunt for an industrial site underlines a big issue for York.

Andrew Hedley, partner at Alan Black & Co in Main Street, Fulford, said: "There simply isn't room at some of the newer, larger projects like the York Central scheme or the Clifton Moor industrial estate.

"York doesn't want factories. It wants light industrial uses that don't make smells, noises or smoke.

"The city needs to be able to offer sites available for purchase by inward investors. Many of those with peculiar or special requirements can't find speculatively developed properties that meet their needs.

"So, they know from previous experience that the answer is to buy a site and do their own thing. But York's allocation of employment sites doesn't allow them this opportunity."

Updated: 09:52 Thursday, July 22, 2004