DETAILED plans will be submitted next month for two speculatively-built office blocks, to trigger a massive £50 million business and science development on the outskirts of York.

Vangarde, the York Business Quarter planned for Monks Cross, has already received outline consent from the Government.

If the green light is now given for 450,000 sq ft of offices and laboratories on the 30-acre site to the south of the Monks Cross Retail Park and the Huntington stadium, it could generate up to 3,000 jobs, and provide a solution to the burgeoning needs of Science City York's incubator firms which have "come of age" and need to find a sophisticated home of their own.

They could also offer alluring prospects to government departments in the south-east which have been given the task of relocating to other parts of England.

Making the application for the two office blocks - the first of ten envisaged - will be award-winning national and international business park developer Akeler, which has been appointed to oversee the Vangarde project by Oakgate (York) Ltd, a York-based consortium of businessmen and landowners.

One is for 40,000 sq ft on three storeys, the other is for 30,000 sq ft on two storeys, and, if planning consent is granted by the City of York Council, work could start this summer.

Patrick Young, director of Akeler's UK projects, said: "The two buildings will be designed to be flexible not only for the general office market, but also for the needs of Science City, where there is a demand from businesses which otherwise might be forced out of York because of a shortage of suitable accommodation.

"For instance, there will be enough ducting to provide, if necessary for the special air conditioning needs of laboratory 'clean rooms'."

Akeler, responsible for prestigious developments such as Leeds Valley Park, Doxford International on the outskirts of Sunderland, and Central Park, Manchester hopes to offer flexible freehold or leasehold packages.

Interest is expected to be high from companies across a range of sectors, but particularly those with a focus on IT and science, which have been experiencing a shortage of suitable property in York.

The master plan for the Vangarde site includes features to minimise its impact on the environment, with a comprehensive support infrastructure and intensive landscaping, incorporating a water feature, dedicated car parking and low-energy accommodation.

Buildings will be of high architectural quality and, where possible, the use of renewable materials will be promoted and the latest hi-tech communications used.

Trevor Silver, Akeler's chief executive, said: "We have a pedigree of attracting companies of the calibre of Fujitsu, Microsoft and T-Mobile to our business park developments. Each is attracted by the calibre of the offices they occupy and the ongoing support and customer care they receive once in their new premises.

Akeler originally began life in Leeds in the 1980s, and has since built major schemes in Sunderland, Glasgow, Manchester and Leeds itself, as well as other business parks in continental Europe.

Updated: 11:13 Tuesday, March 30, 2004