A PROPERTY consultancy established in Clifton Moor two months ago has already attracted more than a dozen major instructions in York and North Yorkshire.

Andrew McBeath, formerly a director of Savills and former partner at Hunters Commercial, both in York, launched his McBeath Property Consultancy in July.

"I have been overwhelmed", said Mr McBeath who plans to take on staff next year. "The market is really picking up after what was a relatively quiet summer and I've timed it just right."

One of his biggest instructions is the factory which was occupied by the ill-fated Dewhirst clothing manufacturers in Welham Road, Norton-on-Derwent, near Malton Station.

The building has stood empty for the past five years, but his brief is now to find tenants for refurbished office and industrial accommodation for the owners, Scothern Developments.

It consists of more than 8,000sq ft of factory and more than 7,000sq ft of offices. Guide rentals stand at £4.50 per sq ft for the industrial premises and £11 per sq ft for the offices.

"I expect a huge response given the prominence and proximity to both Malton town centre and the railway station," he said.

Another major brief has come from York Discount Furniture, which wants to sell its long lease on its building in Audax Road, Clifton Moor as part of a plan to relocate in York.

Mr McBeath is seeking offers for the 125-year lease on the 17,450sq ft warehouse and showroom.

He said that the company which has just won major overseas contracts had options for other premises in and around the city and was awaiting the outcome.

He is also the force behind what is hoped will be the sale and letting of converted stables and outbuildings at Swinton Grange, between Malton and Castle Howard.

In the first phase of a development programme within the grounds of the house, two out of five offices have been completed, with one of them, a 2,400sq ft single storey former dovecote, already snapped up and occupied by PLB Consulting Ltd, a tourism planning and project development consultancy. The remainder of the offices should be available by the end of the year. Rents will range between £11 and £13per sq ft, while sales start at £135 per square ft.

Mr McBeath is also dealing with the sale of an office development site in the grounds of Camblesforth Hall, south of Selby, where there is planning consent to convert barns and other agricultural buildings into 24,000 sq ft of offices.

"It is part conversion and part redevelopment and we are offering the whole site for sale to a developer for an undisclosed sum," he said.

Updated: 09:39 Tuesday, August 30, 2005