Something exciting is stirring down at Centurion Park, Clifton Moor. RON GODFREY

finds signs of commercial property resurgence in the place where once Romans camped

DEVELOPERS are planning a more than £4 million office and industrial development on what was a former Roman marching camp on the outskirts of York.

The five acres bought by Keyland Developments for an undisclosed sum from the Dixon Group, is the last parcel of undeveloped land at Centurion Park, Clifton Moor.

Keyland Gregory plans to transform the area into a high-quality business park of 40,000 sq ft of modern offices and 30,000 sq ft of light industrial space.

Already there is outline planning permission to use the site for employment purposes, but a detailed application for a first phase development - of four individual offices, each of 20,000 ft - has been sent to York City planners.

Richard Flanagan, of York agents Lawrence Hannah & Skelton said: "We are expecting to have it considered in May and if accepted work can start in June with the first unit ready for occupation by December."

Speed was important, he said. "Demand for out-of-town offices in York is still outstripping supply, particularly from those occupiers seeking units up to 6,000 sq ft. There are a limited number of new schemes under construction or in the pipeline, which has led to an upward pressure on headline rents, with more than £13 per sq ft being achieved."

The demand was also being stoked by occupiers seeking to buy developments to place in their own pension funds.

"As one of few remaining opportunities on the popular Clifton Moor business park, Centurion Park will be well-placed to meet this demand."

Richard Tovey, development manager at Keyland Gregory said that phase two would eventually include a single three-storey office building of 20,000 sq ft together with 30,000 sq ft of industrial units from 10,000 sq ft upwards. The Roman site adjoining Centurion Park would be made more accessible to the public by building a footpath alongside the development.

"There's a clear scarcity of quality accommodation out of York city centre and we have incorporated a modern design within our master planning which is sympathetic to the surrounding environment. We aim to provide efficient and flexible accommodation with good car parking in a landscaped setting."

The Dixon Group originally acquired 21 acres at Centurion Park which it used partly for its own car showrooms.

It parcelled off all the remaining the land, to organisations like Layerthorpe VW and Vodafone, apart from the five acres bought by Keyland Developments, which consists of the property arm of the Yorkshire-based Kelda plc and Leeds-based Gregory Group.

Updated: 09:14 Tuesday, March 26, 2002