SCARBOROUGH has an acute shortage of industrial land and the demand is growing according to a report published yesterday by the borough council.

Only 12 acres is currently available at Scarborough Business Park and some is already being developed.

While the town has a further 150 acres of privately-owned land allocated for industrial use, it is unlikely to be developed without significant help from the public sector, said John Trebble, the council chief executive in a report to the authority's cabinet.

He said that forecasts showed that 217 acres of land would be needed over the next decade.

The demand by businesses to build new factories at Scarborough has resulted from increased marketing and raising the town's profile as a place to invest, he said.

A conference is being planned focusing on digital arts, media, education and business with the aim of encouraging higher levels of investment that lead to the creation of jobs and wealth.

New businesses which have moved into the area include high-tech and environmental industries.

"Inward investment remains a difficult issue, partly because there is a very limited choice of accommodation within the borough," said Mr Trebble, who said a property "ladder" was needed to enable companies to move from small starter units through to medium and larger workspace.

He added that there was a particular shortage of units of 1,000-2,000 sq ft, which meant small businesses could not always be accommodated in the area.

Of the existing buildings available, more than 7000 sq ft is of low quality or has access problems, said Mr Trebble.

Whitby, too, has a shortage of workspace and there are no industrial units available at all in the Filey and Hunmanby area.

An investment bureau has now been set up as part of the council's economic development unit to encourage more industrial development and to support existing investment in jobs and businesses.

The bureau says: "In order to secure long-term job growth in the borough, it is essential that more land at Scarborough Business Park is opened up."

It adds that providing serviced land and workspace units in the coming year at the business park is "fundamental" to create new jobs and stimulate wealth creation.

Updated: 11:49 Wednesday, December 17, 2003