ON the back of a hugely successful project in Clifton Moor, Evans Easyspace plans a second centre for small and growing businesses in York.

The vision is for a £1.7 million project to create 19,000 sq ft in 11 offices and 13 workshops this time at York Business Park, in Great North Way, on the A64, with construction starting in the spring in time for completion in the autumn. It is expected to generate about 120 jobs.

In November 2004, the Leeds-based Evans Easyspace group opened a £500,000 business centre in Audax Road, Clifton Moor. All eight of its units, a mix of offices and workshops, have been full for the past 12 months.

Among the organisations taking advantage of the company's easy-in, easy-out licence arrangements there are Siemens Transportation Systems, which services the railway industry; Peak Construction Ltd, which specialises in building and maintenance; Cooltec Services, which maintains air conditioning and refrigeration systems; Pivotal Laboratories which is using its unit as expansion space for its existing premises in nearby Aviator Court, Clifton Moor; Prontaprint printers; and Clarity Copiers, suppliers.

The clear demand for smaller offices and workshops in the York area has now prompted the decision to set up the second centre in the city, this time as part of a £12.5 million spending spree which will add a further five Evans Business Centres to its portfolio.

They will also be in Blackpool, Chester, Darlington and Stirling and boost the organisation's network to 35 around the country.

Tom Stokes, managing director of Evans Easyspace, said: "This investment announcement demonstrates our continued commitment to the development of the Evans Easyspace brand, which is becoming synonymous with flexibility and value in property for the UK small business sector.

"Our success over the last five years has been driven by high levels of demand from owners of small businesses who want space that responds to their needs. We have developed a successful formula and we are planning for continued growth in the years ahead."

The decision to have a second York complex follows completion of a £2 million centre consisting of 49 serviced offices in Hartwith Way, Harrogate.

A spokeswoman for Evans Easyspace said: "So far 15 clients have moved in."

Updated: 11:18 Wednesday, February 01, 2006