FORTY-FIVE new jobs could be created as a Glasgow-headquartered car sales dealership eyes up York for its latest site.

Arnold Clark has submitted an application to City of York Council's planning department to build a two-storey sales showroom and service centre at York Business Park in Nether Poppleton.

The move is part of a country-wide rebranding and refurbishing scheme at Arnold Clark which includes constructing new car showrooms, in addition to its current portfolio of more than 200 UK sites.

Agents from Unwin Jones Partnership, who submitted the application on behalf of Arnold Clark, said: "Arnold Clark believe that this site in York is an excellent location to expand their business, provide an excellent customer experience and ultimately, create employment opportunities within the area.

"The entire eight-acre site is proposed for motor trade. A new vehicle showroom with offices, workshop, prep building, wash and smart repair is proposed on site.

"The car dealership is located at the corner of Great North Way and White Rose Way, presenting the opportunity to create a prominent building to match that of the car dealership across the road."

The proposals have been recommended for approval by the council's planning officers, who in a report to councillors said: "The application site forms a large undeveloped section of the York Business Park which was given planning permission in the late 1990s for a mix of business, and storage and distribution uses.

"The proposed dealership while including elements of employment use including servicing and repair of cars and commercial vehicles and storage of vehicles for

sale and awaiting repair would represent a change of use outside these use classes. However, officers consider that there are material considerations which justify the proposed dealership.

"The full-time job creation figure would be greater than or at least comparable with what could be achieved with the site through use as previously approved.

"It is therefore considered that the proposed development would be justified by significant benefits related to employment and economic development."

Concerns had been raised in relation to the showroom's lighting, and its affect on near-by residential dwellings, including a neighbouring three-storey elderly care home.

Discussions are on-going and are due to be presented to councillors on the planning committee when they meet on November 19.