HUDSON House near York train station has been demolished and the site renamed as the city’s Hudson Quarter.

Work began to pull down the former 1960s block, used as headquarters for the British Rail Eastern Region, in February. It will be replaced with an office building and three luxury apartment blocks as well as a commercial unit.

Building work is set to start in February 2019 but Neil Sinclair, chief executive of developer Palace Capital Ltd, said there has already been plenty of interest from companies considering moving to the site.

Mr Sinclair said: “The completion of the complex demolition process heralds a key landmark for the project and demonstrates our commitment to delivering this development for completion in early 2021.

“Hudson Quarter will be a vibrant community for people to live and work. The branding represents a new beginning for this part of York and offers a unique opportunity to create a new quarter in the heart of the city. Even at this early stage in the development process, we have been encouraged with the considerable amount of interest in both the apartments and office space. The design of Hudson Quarter by Fuse Studios of Leeds is both modern yet sympathetic to the incredibly important heritage that surrounds it and we will deliver an exceptional scheme that York can be proud of.”

He added that there had been a great deal of interest in the demolition at the site, with a number of “spectators” stopping by to watch as the work progressed. The new development will have 127 apartments and 34,500 sq ft of office space. And a footpath from the station to Toft Green and Micklegate will also be created.

Andrew Sharp, head of business at Make it York, said there is a growing demand for office space in the financial, professional and technology sectors in the city. He said: “York is an ideal place from which to do business, it is less than two hours to London by rail and has some of the fastest internet anywhere in the country. The Hudson Quarter redevelopment will take full advantage of this, bringing forward a striking new development in a fantastic location with great access to the rail station and York’s vibrant city centre.”