By LESLEY INNES MAJOR companies wanting to get a foothold in Ely are driving forward a £60 million project for the city which could bring a new hotel, pub/restaurant and offices to Angel Drove. Three big names have alread

By LESLEY INNES

MAJOR companies wanting to get a foothold in Ely are driving forward a £60 million project for the city which could bring a new hotel, pub/restaurant and offices to Angel Drove.

Three big names have already expressed an interest in the ambitious scheme and the company has gone back to the planners with a larger project.

Mantle Estates, based in Essex, was given permission early this year for 385,000 square feet of offices on the site after buying it for more than £4 million.

But after demand from companies wanting to come into the city it has gone back to the planners to get permission for 460,000 square feet of building to include a hotel, pub/restaurant, offices, industrial units and warehousing.

It hopes the wide variety of uses will satisfy demand from big and small companies wanting to move into Ely.

Mantle Estates lodged its new planning application at the end of last month and hopes to get the go-ahead in February.

Work on the 39 acre site could start in the spring and will be driven by demand.

Hundreds of new jobs will be created along with 1,430 parking spaces.

"Ely is growing rapidly but not much is being delivered commercially," said Mantle management director, Guy Baker. "We want to cater for that broader range of demand with uses that will apply to and work for Ely.

"We have come out with a carefully researched, carefully articulated planning application for commercial uses on the site.

"We are hopeful that it will all work but we don't want to be complacent about getting the planning consent. We have to make sure we have done our homework.

"We are talking to three big name occupiers and we are keen to talk to anyone who has an interest in Ely."

Mantle Estates is planning small and large scale offices and is prepared to provide purpose-built accommodation for companies or leasehold buildings.

"If we get inundated with inquiries the development will happen quickly," added Mr Baker. "It will depend on occupier demand."

Turn to Page 2 to see a drawing of the proposal.