NEARLY 1,000 new jobs could be provided on the outskirts of York, if councillors back three major schemes next week.

City of York Council's planning committee will consider applications for new offices at Monks Cross, industrial units at Elvington, and a new headquarters at Dunnington for construction giant Simpson (York) Ltd.

The Monks Cross plan, first reported in The Press in May, could provide around 750 jobs, and the Elvington one a further 50.

Simpson has not specified if its plans include increasing their workforce, but its application says: "The proposed move to Chessingham Park, Dunnington, will provide us with immediate space for our business activities and planned expansion for the next ten years."

All three applications have been recommended for approval by councillors, and the triple-boost has been welcomed by business leaders.

Len Cruddas, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "We welcome the news. It's another indication of the underlying strength of the economy, and also the way the economy continues to successfully diversify.

"There is concrete evidence - literally - of people seeing York as a good place to be, and developers are putting money into York, which is always a good thing."

Council leader Steve Galloway said he could not comment on specific applications before the planning committee, but welcomed the fact developers were active in York.

He said: "The city's economy is still buoyant. It's very good news if developers are seeking sites where we can provide good-quality employment opportunities, coupled with the work that people can already see going on at Foss Islands Road and Hungate, and at Nestlé.

"Taken together, that's evidence of good economic activity in the city, and that's good for us."

The Elvington application has been tabled by William Birch And Sons Ltd, owners of Airfield Business Park. It wants to build eight new units on the park, and a report to the planning committee says it could provide a maximum of 50 jobs.

The Simpson plans were first reported in The Press last October, after the firm won a battle to acquire the land, for which offers of more than £1.25 million were tabled.

The Monks Cross application has been submitted by the Monks Cross Partnership, and consists of two three-storey buildings and seven two-storey ones, covering 100,000 square feet, providing for about 750 jobs.

Its application is only for outline permission, but spokesman Richard Peak said the proposal had already attracted interest from businesses.

He said: "The offices, for which we are currently applying for planning permission, will incorporate many sustainable features including solar power to heat the water and light the car park, wind turbines and ground source heat recovery pumps."

The three applications will be considered at Guildhall next Thursday.