Jobs switch boost for dock 'ghost town'

The water operator's asset delivery department is moving into 57,000 sq ft of space at Livingstone House in what was the city's biggest letting of 2009.

The company said it hopes to boost the development, which has been described as a "ghost town" after losing a number of key leisure and retail tenants during the downturn.

The office space, which Yorkshire Water will occupy from the beginning of March, will house staff and contract partner employees.

Jonathan Shires, director of office agency for CB Richard Ellis, said: "Clarence Dock is a very good scheme that is well-thought out with a good mix of uses but it was completed at a time when the economy wasn't in the best of health.

"This move will make a big difference to the occupiers down there by increasing the footfall."

He added: "We will find it an awful lot easier to engage with people and sign up new tenants now that Yorkshire Water is moving in there."

Charlie Haysom, head of Yorkshire Water's asset delivery department, said: "Our move can only be good news for the traders down there."