A £1.7 million Evans Easyspace business centre, which is expected to generate about 120 jobs at York Business Park, is one step closer.

Denise Dodd, chief executive of york-england.com, the region's inward investment organisation, performed the official ground breaking ceremony for the new 19,000 sq ft development at Poppleton, York, which is expected to be ready in the autumn.

A similar easy-in, easy-out leasing arrangement operates at Evans Easyspace's successful £500,000 business centre in Audax Road, Clifton Moor, where all eight units, a mixture of offices and workshops were snapped up.

Builder CBM is now preparing the 11 offices of 300 to 500 sq ft and 13 workshops from 6,750 to 2000 sq ft, providing a home for up to 24 businesses.

Ms Dodd congratulated all involved in bringing the second Evans Easyspace business centre to the city. She said: "We at york-england.com join the City of York Council in welcoming this centre and the support it will provide to businesses that are seeking to grow here in York and North Yorkshire.

"We know the company's centre in Clifton Moor has been extremely popular, and envisage that this larger centre will be equally attractive.

"By providing high-quality, flexible and affordable business space, Evans Easyspace is playing an important part in fostering business start-ups and growth in this area.

"I'm pleased to be involved in launching this new centre, and look forward to its opening later this year."

Being on the Great North Way at York Business Park ensures the new Evans Business Centre has good road links via the ring road to the A64 and A59.

Ian Frostwick, Evans Easyspace's operations director, expressed his company's commitment to the area.

He said: "Yorkshire is a key area for expansion of the Easyspace network.

"We see it as a vibrant commercial environment where there is a constant demand for good-quality business space."

"We give small and growing businesses the chance to access high-quality offices and workshops at competitive rates, and with a rolling two-month licence deal, so our clients have tremendous flexibility and no long-term commitment.

"We've found this is an irresistible offer for most small businesses."

Details of Evans Easyspace and its 30-plus centres are available by phoning free on 0800 039 3900.

Updated: 09:44 Tuesday, May 02, 2006