A £40m regeneration programme which could create up to 1,000 jobs is under way at Grove Business Park.

About 300 people currently work for 85 businesses at the park but that number is set to grow fast as a result of a masterplan to more than double accommodation on the 32-acre site for businesses of various sizes, operating in a variety of sectors.

As well as extra business premises, talks are under way to bring a café to the park by the end of this year, while a nursery with places for 80 children could open next year. The site is already home to the tfd health & fitness<<all correct style>> club, which has 450 members.

Over the past 18 months, 10,000 sq ft of offices in the central Quad area have been adapted to form four self-contained office suites. Three are let and there is strong interest in the fourth.

Refurbishment of the serviced office centre at Boston House is also nearing completion, with up to 100 desks occupied and room for 280 when work finishes this month<<July>>. Work is also under way to update the office blocks at Merlin House and Aspect House.

Richard Lyall, the project director for Grove Business Park Ltd, which took over the site in December 2015, said: “Demand for space is growing as we create a park that offers a great central location with easy access to the A34, M4 and M40, along with state-of-the-art facilities for businesses ranging from start-ups to major operators."

Later this year, construction of 24 units for start-up and small businesses will begin and plans will soon be submitted to Vale of White Horse District Council for consent to demolish the ‘Village’ area and build 35,000 sq ft of larger business units for sale or rent. These will vary in size from 1,500 to 7,000 sq ft.

Outline planning consent is already in place for 220,000 sq ft of new buildings, more than doubling the current 400,000 sq ft of premises. Businesses will be able to sign up for bespoke design and build packages for premises of 10,000 sq ft and above.

For more information, see grovebusinesspark.com or call 01235 772992.

390 WORDS TO HERE – 75 MORE BELOW IF YOU NEED THEM

David Hill, director of Grove Business Park, said: “We bought the park because we recognised its vast potential, not just in terms of what was already in place, but what it could become.

“Matched by our investment, that vision is now being realised with state-of-the-art buildings and facilities that are highly attractive to businesses looking for the very best for their customers and staff. We are looking forward to an exciting future.”