Urban
development 
Yorkcourt Properties - Wakefield Council Chief Executive gives praise to Paragon
The Chief Executive of Wakefield City
Council has this week praised Paragon Business Village in
Wakefield for its significant contribution to driving major
business and employment for the region. Chief Executive John
Foster gave comment following a special visit to the 130 acre
mixed use, urban development to view progress and hear about
further new plans by developer and owner, Yorkcourt Properties.
Highlights of the tour included the regionally significant new
building for the Department of Communities and Local Government
Fire Control Centre for which construction is now well underway
with completion expected in July 2008. After a rigorous
selection process Paragon was considered to be the best site for
the 31,000 sq ft, high security, state of the art building that
will consolidate four existing control rooms and 300 staff to
become the main call handling centre for all of Yorkshire and
Humber.
Colin Mackie, Managing Director at Yorkcourt Properties also
presented the wider masterplan for the ‘Special Policy Area’ at
Snow Hill, Wakefield. The masterplan proposes to connect Paragon
Business Village with Wakefield City Centre, introducing a
further mix of office, residential, retail and leisure uses and
is likely to create 3000 jobs for the region.
John Foster, Wakefield Council Chief Executive said “The
developments that are taking place are good news for Wakefield
and will mean many more jobs and that will help in the
regeneration of the area around the business park. It was
interesting to see all the work that is going on and I look
forward to seeing the business village go from strength to
strength."
The Chief Executive learned about plans to deliver a series of
speculative new office buildings this year as well as expanded
facilities at Nationwide’s regional call centre, and new
occupiers on site which include City & Guilds, Securitas, law
firm Chadwick Lawrence, and new Italian restaurant, Tuscany.
Colin Mackie, Managing Director at Yorkcourt Properties
comments, “It is rewarding to receive such praise from the Chief
Executive. The calibre of occupiers on site is testament to the
unique attributes that Paragon offers. An excellent location
minutes from the motorway network with direct accessibility to
all major regional cities are all key drivers but it is our own
vision to deliver a mixed environment that sets us apart from
other locations nearby. We even have our own bus stop on site
which is totally unique for growing business park concepts.”
The first phase covering a 25 acre gateway to Paragon is now
almost complete with an attractive configuration of modern
buildings that have frontage onto the busy A650 giving immediate
access to the M1. Yorkcourt Properties has begun the phase two
extension into the heart of the site with a 150 metre road which
will be flanked by landmark office buildings ranging from 4,000
sq ft to 100,000 sq ft and a number of leisure and retail units.
Email:
louise@frenchpr.co.uk