INSURANCE giant Hiscox is to build its new £19m offices in York, it has been confirmed.

City of York Council’s planning committee has given the go-ahead for the development in Hungate which will become the global company’s new flagship office – and Hiscox is expecting to create 500 jobs in the city.

Work on the scheme, which is due to start next year, will see the transformation of the site which previously housed the Haymarket car park, York’s ambulance station and the Peasholme Centre homeless hostel.

Construction is expected to be finished in 2015.