Almost £10 million is set to be pumped into a new Harborough business estate - which could create new jobs

Almost £10 million is set to be pumped into a flourishing new business estate on the outskirts of Market Harborough

Scores of new jobs could be created after Leicestershire County Council’s Cabinet backed a bold £9.5 million scheme to build another 27 commercial units at Airfield Business Park.

The council will now submit a planning application to Harborough council as it forges ahead with plans to boost its property portfolio by expanding the business hub off the A508 Harborough Road.

The county council bought 15.5 acres of undeveloped land at Airfield Business Park in 2016.

And in July 2018 the council got the go-ahead to build 80,000 sq ft of units on part of the site.

Completed in December 2019, the authority says it has been a “big success”.

Some 10 of the 12 new units are now occupied - despite the shattering Covid-19 pandemic.

Five of the tenants moved in to expand their Leicestershire-based operations and the other five businesses are from outside the county.

The county council aims to build another 27 units - ranging from 1,539 sq ft to 10,010 sq ft - on the remaining 7.6 acres of the site.

The council is hoping to launch the construction project early in 2022 and complete it by November 2022.

Cllr Byron Rhodes, the council’s cabinet member for finance and property, said: “Our portfolio of properties continue to perform well.

“We hope to continue investing in projects which not only boost the local economy, but also provide us with much-needed revenue to support our essential services in these difficult times.”

He added: “Our developments so far at the Airfield site have been very successful, despite the challenges posed by Covid-19.

“It is clear that demand is there for further similar units and we are confident that extending the site would bring benefits to both local businesses and the wider community.”