RAPIDLY expanding York-based estate agency Hunters has launched a commercial property department.

A new partnership will market all commercial property types, including leisure facilities, retail outlets, office premises, warehouse space, mixed-use schemes and brownfield sites, through Hunters' offices in York and new outposts in Leeds and Manchester.

Andrew McBeath, former director at FPD Savills, has been appointed as a partner within the commercial division to head up the department.

Keith Hollinrake, director of Hunters, said: "The creation of this division continues to strengthen Hunters' position as an all encompassing property services company.

"The department also complements Hunters' New Homes, which has quickly become one of the company's most successful divisions, by handling the acquisition and disposal of brownfield sites for some of the UK's leading property developers."

He said that Hunters target audience across the north of England through the company's network of nine offices would be a major factor in the new commercial department's success.

Mr Hollinrake said: "Established offices covering the M62 and A1 corridors already reach markets in cities such as Newcastle, Liverpool and Sheffield and this coverage will increase further as the office network continues to expand."

Other services provided by Hunters include residential sales and lettings, land and new home sales, financial services, overseas property, auction sales and conveyancing facilities.

Apart from Mr McBeath's appointment , the new department is expected to create an extra three jobs in the next few months.

That brings to 140 the total number of people working at Hunters' offices in Colliergate and Bishopthorpe, York, Acomb, Harrogate, Wetherby, Ripon, Haxby, Easingwold, Leeds and Manchester.

Updated: 11:22 Wednesday, May 05, 2004