HARROGATE development company Gregory Properties has invested more than £1 million establishing a new 3.5 acre business centre at Wetherby.

The company, based off Otley Road, Harrogate, has already pre-sold two units totalling 70,000 sq ft on what will be known as the Sandbeck Business Centre to Arville Textiles and GSM Valtech Industries.

Both were seeking larger factory and office premises and the move will between them safeguard 115 jobs, with room for expansion over the next 10 years.

Talks are already going on with other firms interested in a three-storey office refurbishment of 8,500 sq ft with 36 car parking spaces on the site, just off the A1.

The development company says interest is being shown in a new two-storey 17,500 sq ft office development with parking for 65 cars for which planning consent has been granted, on an adjoining plot.

Sandbeck, the principal commercial area of Wetherby, has already attracted businesses such as Farnell, Safepak, Goldenfry, Holroyds and Whittakers.

The first phase of works at Sandbeck Business Centre, including refurbishment of two larger units as well as a new access road, should be completed by Gregory Properties by the end of March.

Gregory Properties was involved in building the successful Wetherby Business Park in the late 1980s.

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