THESE are tense times for Pavers Ltd, the York-based shoe retailing and internet empire, as a crucial detailed application is considered by the city's planners on August 23.

If approved, work will start next month on building a £2 million, 40,000 sq ft state-of the-art distribution centre and offices less than 100 yards from the firm's existing base at the Northminster Business Park, Poppleton.

When the project is finished, Pavers will move out of its existing 18,000 sq ft warehouse and offices into its bigger new home, where its staff numbers are expected to more than double from 45 to 100.

The prospect of more jobs was one of the reasons which persuaded City of York Council planners to agree in principle to using the land for employment purposes.

Another was the fact that former ill-fated occupiers Challis, the horticultural firm, gravelled over the nearly two acres to display potted shrubs, making its use as agricultural land difficult.

But there were also fears that the family firm of Pavers might uproot and move out of the city if its problems were not heeded.

It was needed because last year alone the firm, which has 400 employees and 50 shops in three countries, processed 1.1 million pairs of shoes at Poppleton. The new building would double that capacity.

The architect for the proposal was Andrew Himsworth, a director of DJ Curtis and Associates which designed most of the buildings on Northminster Park.

Should the plan be approved, Andrew Eccles, of Northminster Properties, will market the existing Pavers building once it becomes vacant.

He said: "At the moment we have 35 firms here, generating 300 jobs. If all goes well, that could expand to 500 jobs."

The plans for Pavers' expansion represent astonishing success for Catherine Paver, who began the business 30 years ago and continues to run it with her three sons, Ian, Graham and Stuart.

Stuart, who also heads up the growing shoeshop.com, will need to share the warehouse facilities which, if approved, will include a studio for its cable television "shoe shows" under the brand of shoe-shop.tv

He said: "These are tense times as we await the decision. We are feeling positive but not counting any chickens. It has taken us a long time for this to come to fruition. It is worthwhile investment, even considering the latest retail downturn."

Updated: 12:15 Wednesday, August 10, 2005