WORK is due to start in Spring on a £1.7million business scheme which will create 50 jobs after a Harrogate-based developer received planning consent.

The approved application by Marrtree Investments is for the construction of 19,000 sq ft of business units at the Thorpe Arch Trading Estate near Wetherby.

Known as Marrtree Business Park @ Thorpe Arch Trading Estate, the scheme is due for completion by December.

It will comprise seven separate units across two buildings, with accommodation ranging from 2,000 sq ft to 4,000 sq ft. It follows the success of Marrtree’s 20,000 sq ft development at St James’ Business Park, Knaresborough, which was completed in 2014 and is now fully let to eight businesses.

Marrtree director William Marshall said: “There’s a constant demand for high-quality business units that are well located close to the A1 corridor, and being only five minutes from junction 45 of the A1 motorway, Thorpe Arch couldn’t be better situated.

“Because it’s so easy to get to, and the units will be deliberately designed to offer maximum flexibility, it will mean the accommodation is well suited to a range of different types of business, from traditional manufacturing companies through to logistics firms, and a wide variety of occupiers in-between – much as we saw with our successful Knaresborough scheme.”

“Thorpe Arch is gathering real momentum as an economic hub and has become the go-to location for more than 100 diverse businesses. We hope Marrtree Business Park, Thorpe Arch will now provide a further economic boost with yet more businesses moving to the site and new jobs created.”