A FIGHTBACK has begun to lure businesses and shops back to York city centre.

That is the claim of a York property consultancy which points to a flurry of rental deals which prove resistance to pressure from out-of-town superstores and office and retail parks.

The consultancy, Lawrence Hannah and Skelton of Blossom Street, points to court reporting specialist JL Harpham Ltd taking two floors in Swinegate Court East in York, on a ten-year lease.

The 5,000 sq ft offices, previously occupied by Norwich Union, and owned by Oakgate, the Wetherby property development group, will fetch £62,750 rent a year on the basis of £12.55 per sq ft.

This is the second vacant property in Swinegate let recently for Oakgate by Lawrence, Hannah and Skelton,

A shop previously occupied by the City of York Council in Back Swinegate is now being fitted out as a specialist maternity clothing outlet, on a three-year lease with an annual rent of £18,500.

Miles Lawrence, a partner with Lawrence, Hannah and Skelton, said: "Swinegate is one of York's hidden treasures - except that it's not really hidden any more.

"Its popularity is growing so fast, mainly because it is right in the heart of historic York and is the perfect base for offices and for shops. It is thriving - and will continue to thrive in the future."

His firm has also let Howard House, a high-quality office building in St Mary's Court, Blossom Street, after undertaking a design makeover there.

New tenant is stockbrokers' firm Gerrard, which has moved from New Street, York.

Gerrard signed a ten-year lease for rent of £14.70 per sq ft for both the building and car parking spaces, representing a little more than £34,000 a year.

Mr Lawrence sees these deals as evidence of a fightback in the face of increasing pressure on central York from out-of-town developments, compounded by spiralling parking charges.

Two other successful developments, just outside the walls of York, also underline the fightback, he says.

Foss Court, situated on the York Inner Ring Road and next door to the major new Foss Islands Road retail park, is a prime £1 million office development.

Work is now under way on the prestigious new three-storey office building, with its own car-parking, and it is already attracting big interest.

The total floor area is 8,328 sq ft, with rent of £14.50 per sq ft.

Foss Court, which is owned by William Birch and Son, is in the heart of a successful office and retail environment. The headquarters of the Government agency DEFRA is across the road, with solicitors, accountants and insurance and investment consultants nearby.

Updated: 09:46 Tuesday, June 01, 2004