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