A LEASE has been signed on new 8,000 sq ft premises at Foss Court, off Foss Islands Road, York, and 40 partners and staff from the new accountancy practice created by the merger of Selby-based JW Pickles & Co and York-based Creers will move in next month.

The new premises, design built by York-based William Birch and Sons, will replace the former base of Creers in Spen Lane which can no longer accommodate the enlarged practice.

As well as housing all 25 former Creers partners and staff, the two-storey premises will become the new base of 15 staff from what was previously JW Pickles & Co, as part of the integration of the two practices.

The office will focus on corporate finance within the heart of the York and North Yorkshire business community. Expertise to be based in York will also include auditing and specialist advice to the healthcare and charity sectors as well as a full range of accounting and business services.

JWPCreers will initially occupy about 2,500 sq ft on each of the first and second floors. The ground floor will be sub-let.

There will also be space to accommodate the practice's planned expansion.

John Machin, JWPCreers partner, who has overseen the search for new premises, said: "We are delighted to have agreed terms with William Birch and Sons and to be moving to such a prestigious location.

"Ever since we started planning the merger and the requirement for new office space, we wanted it to be as close to York city centre as possible at the heart of the business community which we serve and where we wish to extend our client base and professional partners."

JWPCreers, which also has expertise in agriculture, professional partnerships and manufacturing, will continue to retain the former JW Pickles & Co premises in Park Street, Selby, where more than 30 partners and staff will remain.

Updated: 11:22 Tuesday, May 16, 2006