Pioneering plans for a £2 million eco-friendly business centre at Clifton Moor have been given the go ahead. The Helmsley Group will create the 20,000 sq ft purpose-built eco-friendly business centre at Amy Johnson Way on behalf of City of York Council. The business complex will utilise the latest 'green' technologies and building materials. It will consist of approximately 8,000 sq ft of office/studio space to let, plus 7,000 sq ft of workshop space, a 2,000 sq ft management suite and 3,000 sq ft for the city council's Young Business Project to help and steer York's young entrepreneurs. It will replace both the Fishergate Centre and Parkside Commercial Centre, which currently cater for new and growing businesses, and will close for redevelopment. With room for 60 businesses - triple the size of the Fishergate Centre - the energy efficient accommodation will be offered at low, subsidised rents to business start-ups, who will not be allowed to stay for more than four years. Designed by York-based DSP Architects, the flexible accommodation has been innovatively designed to create a sense of community for the occupiers to enable them to benefit from each other's expertise. Ian McAndrew, associate director at The Helmsley Group, said: "The building is designed to help reduce carbon emissions by the use of renewable energy technologies and energy efficient equipment and will be a first for York. Occupiers will benefit from reduced annual running costs compared to a conventional building of this size and nature. This is an excellent example of how all buildings in the future will be developed." Leader of City of York Council Steve Galloway said: "I am delighted that this important project has negotiated another hurdle. It is important for the City in two ways. It will provide accommodation for the fledgling companies that will provide the bedrock for York's economic recovery. In addition it builds on the national reputation that the City has gained, in sustainable building technologies, as a result of the opening of York's Eco Depot a fortnight ago. I would like to thank Ian and the Helmsley Group for coming up with such an imaginative and environmentally responsible design" Site investigations are currently being carried out to confirm whether ground source heat pumps can be incorporated into the scheme to provide 'free heat' using the energy from the earth to heat and cool the building. Other sustainable features will include solar panels providing hot water, a 15 metre high wind turbine generating energy for communal areas, water saving devices, a green roof, lighting saving controls linked to daylight levels and rainwater harvesting to water the landscaped areas. Construction will start in the New Year, and the building will be ready for occupation in late 2007.