The new shopping heart of York Hospital is nearly ready.

The first phase of the redevelopment of the hospital entrance opens next month, offering a range of retail units for both 2,600 staff and 1,000 patients - and already units within the 7,000 sq ft of space have been pre-let.

One of the takers is 500-shop confectionery chain Julian Graves which already has a presence in the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet complex in York. Also leasing space will be the Women's Royal Voluntary Service.

The hospital entrance project is being undertaken by British Health Enterprise (BHE) which carried out a similar development at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital and has experience in development and long-term management of catering, car parking and other non-core services within the NHS.

Alan Pesskin of BHE said: "We are excited to be involved in this project and have retained a top London architectural practice, Toh Architects, which has designed an innovative solution featuring an enormous atrium, and art and retail facilities that will become the new heart of the hospital".

Richard Flanagan, partner in Lawrence Hannah & Skelton, of York, which is marketing the remaining units, said: "I anticipate that this scheme will generate phenomenal interest from a variety of retailers wishing to take advantage of this marvellous redevelopment.

"With four of the units already having been pre-let, two of them in the first phase will become available shortly and these will undoubtedly appeal to both national and local retailers alike".

Updated: 09:07 Tuesday, March 25, 2003