IT started from a small acorn in Pocklington but now property developer The Helmsley Group is finally quitting its home to relocate to one of its own projects at Monks Cross in York.

The group, which is moving from smaller premises in Pocklington, intends to be on the 40-acre business park on York's outer ring road which it has been developing in phases with its clients, the Monks Cross Partnership.

Helmsley chairman John Reeves, said: "We are putting our money where our mouth is.

"We have been committed to the success of Monks Cross North since day one and believe that it is the city's premier business park with occupiers including Norwich Union Life, chartered accountants Garbutt & Elliott and Business Link York and North Yorkshire.

"What better way to demonstrate our commitment than to actually move there ourselves?"

The company's growth and success has meant that its Pocklington offices can no longer accommodate the 15-strong team.

Mr Reeves said: "The offices at Colenso House in Pocklington have served us well for the past 25 years. However, it was built as a residential rather than a commercial property and we feel that the building is too restrictive for our future needs.

"Our plan is to offer Colenso House for sale, possibly for conversion back into a residential property."

The Helmsley Group plans to occupy two of the six units that form the Omega development at Monks Cross North. Construction of the £1.7 million Omega development starts in October and is due for completion in April next year.

The four remaining units have been sold to private investors for commercial buy-to-let. This means that Omega has completely sold off-plan.

As reported in the Evening Press earlier this month, the huge demand from investors and owner-occupiers at the business park has prompted The Helmsley Group to submit a planning application for the next 29,000 sq ft phase of development.

Sigma, as it will be known, will be a similar development to the successful Omega and Alpha schemes and will be built between the Omega site and Norwich Union Life's 80,000 sq ft purpose-built premises.

The Helmsley Group has a property portfolio worth more than £100 million and is behind some of York's most prestigious new office developments located at Clifton Park, the University of York and the CPP building at Holgate Park.

Updated: 10:38 Monday, September 26, 2005