Park life is proving a big attraction

12:33pm Tuesday 4th March 2008

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EVEN before work is completed on 14 new warehousing and industrial units at S Harrison Development's Escrick Business Park on the A19, south of York, interest in the project is gathering pace.

The response has triggered high hopes that the new park will soon provide more than 250 new jobs for the region.

S Harrison Development's project manager, Phil Hill, said: "The first four of the units are now sold and there is serious interest in a further four, even before the job is complete.

"Buyers are clearly attracted by the location - close to York but away from the congestion of the ringroad-based business parks.

The site has an attractive rural feel about it but with easy access to amenities like the Designer Outlet.

Industrial units, for B1, B2 and B8 use, range in size from 1250 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft and feature larch cladding and extensive landscaping to maintain the rural feel.

With a six-metre eaves height it allows scope for the inclusion of a first-floor level eventually to double the space.

Rok plc, which is building the units alongside 19 highquality offices on the development, will hand over the first phase on schedule at the end of this month.

It is the first job that Rok will have completed for S Harrison Developments Ltd since Rok acquired Harrison's Malton-based construction business last year.

Since then, Harrison has moved its headquarters to the Chocolate Works in York - the former Terry's factory site.

Offices, of which there are 19 in total, range in size from 1300 sq ft to 10,500 sq ft.

Riccall Carers is set to be the first business to move into the office site, in June.

Mr Hill says jitters in the economy have had no effect. "Escrick Business Park is attracting wide-ranging interest, from expanding local businesses and from inward investors alike.

There is the option to buy or to lease, but mostly inquirers are looking to buy as part of their business strategy.

"There is no shortage of confidence amonghe businesses we are talking to."

James Boyes, Rok's project manager, who has led the construction team on site since last August, says: "Despite losing some time on additional groundworks early in the programme, we're delighted that the 26-week build programme is right on track."

Details of office and industrial units are available via selling agents Savills and Lawrence Hannah of York.