A NEW multi-million-pound business park has opened in Ringwood as part of the council's investment into the local economy.
Platinum Jubilee Business Park, named to honour Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, opened at Hopclover Way on Wednesday, July 19, and cost the council £9.5m.
Councillor Neville Penman, chairman of the New Forest District Council, cut a ribbon and declared the development open before touring the site.
The business park is home to 16 light industrial units and two office buildings.
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So far 64 per cent of the available space has been claimed by several businesses including a supplier of metal finishing machinery, a social media agency, a healthcare technology company and a swimming pool company.
Cllr Jeremy Heron, NFDC’s portfolio holder for finance and corporate, said: “This is our biggest investment and our first business park. As part of the council’s investment strategy, we bought the land in Ringwood in 2019 for £2.1m. After a pause due to Covid restrictions, construction and development took around 15 months.”
“We are very pleased to be able to welcome our first tenants to the business park, with a wide range of activities represented. As the park reaches full occupancy, we expect that over 150 jobs will be supported and these businesses will contribute towards strong economic benefit and growth to Ringwood and the wider district."
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The site gained a 'BREEAM very good' accreditation for sustainability since solar panels and electric vehicle charges were built into the units.
GE Machinery Limited, a newly-established company, moved into the business park in June 2023.
Director Nichola Nelson said she feels NFDC will treat her "fairly" as a tenant, adding: "Being New Forest residents, the location of the Platinum Jubilee Business Park is perfect for our travel time. The solar panels added onto the units are a bonus and it’s great to have our own clean and tidy premises.”
The construction of the site supported the community through employing local people.
Matt Leather, a civil engineer who lives within a short walk of the business park and worked on the construction, said: “I grew up round this area and it has saved time and fuel working so close by.
"It has been great to work on something so local.”
Cllr Heron said the council's next large-scale investment is a new £7.8m operational depot at Hardley industrial estate which will replace Claymeadow depot in Totton.
To find out more about the site or enquire about vacant units, visit platinumjubileebusinesspark.co.uk.
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