Exclusive by Ron Godfrey, Business Editor

NEW LOOK: Artist's impression of the £4 million Holgate Park offices facing Poppleton Road, which it is hoped will attract more high-tech companies to York

Plans for a new £4 million business park to lure high-tech companies to York were announced today.

Building will start early in May on the last swathe of available land in Holgate Park, the former ABB railway carriageworks site.

Behind the scheme is Business Homes, the property company which developed the successful Aviator Court offices at Clifton Moor.

Business Homes says there is huge interest in the 1.6 acre site, facing Poppleton Road, which it officially bought last Thursday for an undisclosed sum.

It is expected that 100 jobs will be created.

The developer has detailed planning consent for the development of five two-storey units with offices of between 3,000 sq ft and 5,000 sq ft.

The first phase will be the building of the first three units which are expected to be ready for occupation in September. The finished development will feature allocated parking and landscaping.

Simon Houlston, of Business Homes, said: "Holgate Park's location is a major selling point as there are very few opportunities for businesses to move into a new building that is so near to the city centre.

"With good road and rail links, it is ideal for inward investment, but it will also appeal to businesses that are already based in the area, but want to relocate to a property with the cachet of a city centre headquarters, and added convenience."

Leeds-based Business Homes, which has a policy of encouraging start-up businesses, is hoping that its marketing campaign will attract some high-tech companies, in keeping with York's Science City initiative, as well as professional service organisations and other diverse firms.

Mr Houlston said: "The units will be available either leasehold or freehold, and are built to modern international specifications, so they will be attractive to a broad range of business types.

"CPP's new headquarters elsewhere on the site has created a precedent for high-tech services businesses at Holgate Park, and our development could continue that trend by encouraging technological companies to relocate to the area. However, the flexible lease arrangements could also appeal to start-up businesses."

Agents for the scheme are the York offices of DTZ and Foster Bowden.

The Business Homes project finally brings to fruition the work of the York Regeneration Partnership, a consortium formed four years ago from City of York Council, English Partnerships, Home Housing Association, Joseph Rowntree Foundation and North Yorkshire TEC.

In October, 1996, it announced a £26 million regeneration package for reclamation and community projects which would bring new life to the site.

Since then the reclaimed land has attracted Thrall Europa and CPP (Card Protection Plan).

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