Richard Peak, director of Yorkshire property development and investment company, The Helmsley Group, has become a shareholder of the business.

Mr Peak, 35, has been a driving force in the property development side of the business, which has developed £100 million of commercial and residential property in Yorkshire in the last five years alone.

Projects include the phased development of the £60 million Monks Cross North business park in York and the development of the commercial element of the new £500 million mixed-use Middlehaven scheme in Middlesbrough.

His investment comes as the company is to move from its Pocklington base to new purpose-built headquarters at Monks Cross North later this year.

Mr Peak said: "We have a robust development programme with some excellent projects in the pipeline."

Updated: 11:27 Wednesday, January 18, 2006