A FORMER pig farm near York could be transformed into a high-tech business park, under plans submitted to Harrogate Borough Council.

The Rural Workspace and Housing Association, a group which aims to create new jobs in country areas, wants to redevelop Carr House Farm, in Nun Monkton.

Andrew Tegg, assistant project manager for the association, said the aim was to attract high-tech businesses by providing state-of-the-art offices and communication links in a new Internet centre.

It is estimated the development could create 14 jobs and provide training and employment opportunities in the area.

Mr Tegg said the aim would be to attract Internet businesses who could work from anywhere but who were looking at desirable areas with good local facilities.

"We have a database of 200 businesses looking for interesting workspaces and the Harrogate/York area is a hot area," he said.

The plans would involve demolishing the current buildings and putting up two new buildings which would form a traditional stableyard shape, and would cover 1,010 square metres.

They would include five business units and some residential accommodation.

Mr Tegg said: "We have done research with possible tenants and due to the unsociable hours they work and the very expensive materials they use, a lot of them have said they would like a certain degree of residential element in-built."

Carr House Farm is situated between the A59 and the village of Nun Monkton in Pool Lane and is not in green belt land.