A YORK distributor is planning to take over an empty building, creating 30 new jobs.

J A Magson Ltd, which is based in Audax Road, Clifton Moor, York, is to move into the former packaging plant of Lawson Mardon, in Kettlestring Lane, Clifton Moor, which has been empty for the last two years.

The wholesale distributor of stationery, toys, greeting cards and non-food Christmas items, currently occupies two warehouses in Clifton Moor, which it is outgrowing. The company plans to centralise its business by moving into the large distribution warehouse in Kettlestring Lane, creating an extra 30 jobs.

Members of City of York Council's planning sub-committee approved Magson's application to change the use of the 140,000 sq ft building from general industrial to storage and distribution, at a meeting on March 11.

Managing director Nick Magson said the family business originally started out in St Saviourgate in 1929, before moving to Leeman Road. But for the last thirteen-and-a-half years, it has been based in Clifton Moor.

The firm has bought out businesses in Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Huddersfield and Northampton and moved their operations to York. Once Magson moves to Kettlestring Lane the firm could also move business from its operations in Ipswich, Hull and Uckfield into York.

Mr Magson said: "The centre of our business has always been within York, and having built up a loyal and reliable workforce it is in our interest to remain in York and use our York warehouse as the distribution centre for the whole of the UK."

The business has grown enormously over the last decade.

In 1994 its total workforce was 85 but ten years later its workforce numbers 351, 259 of whom work in York. Magson hopes to create more jobs in York in the future.

The firm's turnover has grown from £8 million in 1994 to £36 million in 2003. Sales figures for 2004 are estimated at £40 million.

The former York and North Yorkshire Inward Investment Board, york-england.com, said it supported the move as it would create 30 new jobs as well as safeguarding 259 York jobs.

It said the former Lawson Mardon building had been difficult to let because of its large size, and Magson would now release its smaller units for other businesses to use.

Updated: 11:38 Friday, March 19, 2004