Go-ahead for restaurant at Monks Cross North business park

Cloverleaf Restaurants Ltd has secured permission from City of York Council to build a 280-seater outlet on Monks Cross Drive which is aimed at providing a base for local firms to host seminars and events.

The restaurant is expected to open at the Monks Cross North business park next April, on land currently used as a car park, as part of a project also involving York-based developers the Helmsley Group, after the council’s east area planning sub-committee approved the scheme.

It could ultimately also form part of a larger development in the area including a 60-bedroom budget hotel and a nursery.

Helmsley Group director Ian McAndrew said: “We are really pleased this application has been approved as business parks like Monks Cross North need to compete in a very restricted market.

“It is essential a business park competes not just locally, but regionally, and that to attract new occupiers and businesses both to the city and to this location, facilities such as this are in place.

“They need to be there to serve the business community and act as a catalyst to attract further potential occupiers and create new employment opportunities, particularly in these difficult economic times.”

Cloverleaf said they had chosen the site because of the lack of existing facilities around the business park for firms based there to stage corporate events. About half the new jobs which will be created would be full-time positions.

Company director Gary Douglas said: “This is fantastic news as Monks Cross North is an important strategic location for Cloverleaf as part of our future expansion plans in Yorkshire.

“The development will provide a long-awaited, high-quality, sustainable facility to support the local business community.

“From day one, everybody we approached within York to discuss and consult on our proposal for Monks Cross has been so helpful and supportive, and this was fundamental in our ultimate decision to move here.”