A LOCAL enterprise agency is heading for a new home in a large empty property in the centre of Bedale.

Negotiations are continuing to enable Business Solutions Bedale, which needs new permanent acccommodation for its rapidly expanding operations, to move into 17 Market Place through a leasing arrangement with Hambleton District Council.

Hambleton, which has long been concerned about empty properties in the town centre, believes the regeneration of the local economy will be helped by bringing back into productive use a boarded up building in a prime position.

The building has been empty for more than a year since the Condur Design business closed and its trade was taken over by another company a few yards down the street.

Only the ground floor frontage of 17 Market Place was occupied by Condur Design, the upper floors having been vacant for many years, but Hambleton wants to find a new use for the whole building.

The property is understood to need substantial investment, running into six figures, to restore it to daily use.

Under the regeneration initiative, the main lease would be taken by the district council, which would then sub-lease the property to BSB, although it is understood that an option for Hambleton to buy might be possible under the terms.

District councillors have now agreed to negotiate terms with BSB for a lease, subject to conditions relating to space being made available for other users representing local training and education providers.

BSB, which covers Hambleton and Richmondshire, has been based since 1987 in premises in Bridge Street, Bedale, but, with only two years remaining on its lease there, the agency approached Hambleton for help in acquiring and converting 17 Market Place last August.

BSB is a non-profit organisation giving advice and support to new businesses through a contract with Business Link and, through JobCentre Plus, offering help to the long-term unemployed wishing to get back into work or to become self-employed.

The agency's business support programme last year involved more than 500 new and existing businesses and more than 1,100 counselling sessions. In the past five years, such activities have added more than £20m to the area's economy.

BSB's Learndirect centre, opened in January and supported by the Learning and Skills Council, would also be rehoused in 17 Market Place, giving the Bedale community access to almost 500 training courses such as basic skills and IT and business training.

Agency chairman Ralph Andrew is a senior Hambleton councillor but took no part in the discussions or voting which led to the negotiations for a lease because he declared a personal interest.

He said: "As well as providing a permanent home for BSB to continue its excellent work in the community, the move would ensure that the building was occupied by an entirely sustainable organisation that would substantially increase the pedestrian traffic flow in the town, to the significant benefit of other retail businesses."

He said it was hoped that the building would be occupied and reopened by the latter part of 2006.

Steve Quartermain, director of planning and environmental services at Hambleton, said: "We are continuing to negotiate with BSB and other training and education providers as to how 17 Market Place could benefit the town."

There were negotiations on legal issues and more work had to be done on the structural condition of the building. He could not give any firm figure on the cost of bringing it back into use.

Mr Quartermain said money for the redevelopment would come from the Hambleton economic development fund and grant aid would be sought from regional development agency Yorkshire Forward. It was hoped further support would come from the North-East Civic Trust, with which the council had been working.

BSB has reserves specifically designated for investment in the acquisition of a new permanent site. While planning to stay in Bedale, the agency is expected soon to change its name to Business Support and Development Ltd to reflect its wider area of operations