A MAJOR contract to be employers' agent and planning supervisor on a multi-million pound development at Monks Cross North, York, has been won by chartered surveyors and property consultants Lightly & Lightly.

The contract - to manage and supervise the £2.5 million development of two- storey offices, to be called Omega, at Monks Cross Drive, next to the Norwich Union building, has been won by the Clifton Moor office of Lightly & Lightly from the Monks Cross Partnership.

Planning consent for the 25,000 sq ft development has been granted by City of York Council, construction work starts on site this month and will be complete by summer 2006.

Part of the Monks Cross Partnership, property investment and development company, The Helmsley Group, will be relocating from Pocklington, near York, to more than 4,000 sq ft of the new offices while the remainder will be let.

Colin Linley, Lightly & Lightly director, said: "Monks Cross North is a fast-growing, dynamic business location with a thriving commercial community and excellent road links both with the city centre and other parts of North Yorkshire. We are delighted to be working alongside The Monks Cross Partnership on this important new phase in its office development."

Richard Peak, Helmlsey Group director and spokesman for the Monks Cross Partnership, said: "We are taking the opportunity to relocate to Monks Cross North where we will benefit from high-quality office accommodation in an excellent location. As developers, we are demonstrating our commitment to the site which has already attracted some major businesses and government departments."

Updated: 10:36 Wednesday, November 23, 2005