Office job is up to speed

11:10am Friday 16th May 2008

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PHASE TWO of a new office concept for small businesses has been completed on time and within budget in York.

The pioneering office scheme by Business Living, part of Evans Property Group, has been completed on a six-acre site at York Business Park in eight months.

The scheme is aimed at owner-occupiers and investors and comprises six two-storey units of between 2,600 sq ft and 5,100 sq ft, in a landscaped and secure setting.

Completion of the scheme by Leeds-based GMI Construction Group Plc follows the first sale of a unit at the first phase, Novus, an adjoining £5 million hi-tech office scheme - eight hybrid units designed to meet the needs of science and technology enterprises to which contract cleaning business, Future Cleaning Services, relocated from Lincoln last month.

Business Living is creating a new commercial property niche market by providing high specification offices which cater for the growing preference among small businesses for obtaining commercial property freehold.

Iain Robertson, Business Living's managing director, said: "It is very rewarding to see York and North Yorkshire's first ever Business Living scheme complete and ready for occupation.

"We have every confidence in York Business Living because of the city's thriving community of small and medium sized firms, the growing preference for freehold property and the fantastic location which offers easy access to York ring road, the A64 to Leeds and Harrogate, Clifton Moor Retail Park and York city centre where there are many amenities to support the growing sophistication of small enterprises.

"We are already receiving significant interest in spite of gloomy economic forecasts and hope to announce our first deal at Phase Two of the Business Living scheme shortly."

Research suggests the York Business Living scheme will appeal to commercial buy-to-let investors, small enterprises seeking modern accommodation and those in multi-occupancy premises seeking stand-alone units.

Planning permission has been granted for a further two phases of Business Living at York Business Park. Property consultants King Sturge and chartered surveyors, Lawrence Hannah, of York, have been appointed agents for the development.