A BIG consultation programme with businesses to avoid disruption from a £10 million building project in Harrogate is working, say the contractors.

Totty Construction says that work to redevelop the seven-storey Harrogate House landmark in the Montpelier Quarter of the town only began in May after a widespread consultation.

As a result the plan to build a mixed development there of 20 apartments, a 46-bedroom hotel and a luxury office scheme is actually winning praise. The consultation resulted in Totty working around local business deliveries and parking needs.

Mike Parkinson, managing director of Totty Construction said: "We were keen to find ways of managing the site that would both facilitate ease of access and efficient work for our own staff and minimise disruption for local businesses and their customers."

The result, he said, was "excellent progress", running to schedule. Totty has signed the Harrogate House site up to the Considerate Contractor's Charter.

Updated: 14:52 Tuesday, September 23, 2003