A MAJOR deal has been struck to create one of the country's first zero-carbon business parks at Winfrith.

Dorset-based developer Cornhill Estates is part of a syndicate run by Zog Brownfield Ventures Ltd to purchase the site known as the science and technology park from United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

The consortium plans to double the size of the current park to create an eco-friendly business complex on land adjacent to the nuclear site at Winfrith, which is in the process of being decommissioned.

Director of Cornhill Estates Kim Slowe said: "The science and technology park provides around half a million square feet of business space. Our intention is to double that over 10 years, making Winfrith one of the UK's first zero-carbon business parks.

"The aim is to create a high quality business park which is zero-carbon and will attract new businesses to the Purbeck district that wouldn't otherwise consider it.

"We're very excited by it and we're confident that with the right marketing, strong management and close co-operation with our tenants, we can create a business park that will be thriving and successful," he added.

The purchase of the 127-acre site has been agreed for an undisclosed sum and the syndicate will now be working with the Prince's Foundation to draw up guidelines for new buildings on the site.

He said that investigations were being made into a series of environmentally-friendly ways to provide energy for the park.

"We're looking at a series of options, including co-locating a waste energy centre to create bio gas to drive a gas generator, which will provide the park with heat and electricity."

The park will create a lot more jobs, right next door to the nuclear site where jobs have been lost in the decommissioning process.