NINETY jobs are being moved from York to the outskirts of Wetherby as national drinks distributor Matthew Clark Wholesales invests in new warehouse premises to accommodate "dramatic" growth.

The business, which distributes alcoholic and soft drinks to thousands of pubs, hotels, clubs and restaurants throughout the North, is to move its Yorkshire operation from Derwent Valley Industrial Estate, in Dunnington, near York, where it has been based for more than 15 years.

Building work will start on the 62,925 sq ft purpose-built facility at Thorp Arch Estate, near Wetherby, in January with completion during early summer 2016 after the plan was backed by Leeds City Council planners this month.

Tenders for the building work, in which property and construction consultants, LHL Group, York, will be employer’s agent, have been issued and the appointment of a contractor will be announced soon.

Thorp Arch Estate, a 385-acre former Royal Ordinance wartime munitions factory, has demolished three former units, which had a combined area of 93, 614 sq ft, to make way for the new warehouse.

Matthew Clark Wholesale, which has its national headquarters in Bristol, has more than 200 years' experience of supplying drinks, hospitality training, labour management and marketing support to more than 16,000 premises in the UK.

Matthew Clark’s regional managing director Ian Gordon, said: "I’m delighted to be relocating our regional operations to this new, purpose-built facility. Our business has grown dramatically during the past few years which has meant that we are unable to continue to operate from our existing site.

"This is a very exciting time for the Matthew Clark business and this expansion is the result of a continuing successful collaboration between our suppliers, employees and customers. This new development paves the way for the next phase of growth of the business."

The two-million sq ft Thorp Arch Estate is base for a range of more than 140 businesses, employing more than 1,800 people.

Tim Munns, director of Wharfedale Property Management, which manages the estate for owner Rockspring Hanover Property Unit Trust, said: "Attracting Matthew Clark Wholesale is another significant coup for Thorp Arch Estate.

"This is one of the most significant industrial property deals in Yorkshire this year and reinforces the estate’s ideal location equidistant between Leeds, York and Harrogate."