A NEW business park costing £2.5million could generate 30 jobs.

Penton Motor Group plans to build four units on the former Boyland Joinery site in Stony Lane, Christchurch, to be known as Penton Business Park.

The motor group has built four showrooms for its franchised motor businesses over the past eight years as well as renovating three separate buildings as investments.

It is the first time the family-run business – based in Christchurch, Poole, Andover and Salisbury – has developed a “ground-up” commercial investment property that was not for its own use.

Penton Group managing director Robert Wilson said: “This new development demonstrates our confidence in the commercial property sector and the Christchurch area.

“With the possible creation of 30 jobs, it represents a significant boost for the local economy and regeneration of a disused brownfield site.

“It is an exciting circa £2.5m investment for our business, on which we can use our expertise and experience in showrooms and service centre development to expand further into the commercial property market.”

The scheme will involve demolishing the former Boyland Jounery building to create five units measuring between 4,000sqft and 12,000sqft.

The park will offer 20,300sqft of space for trade counter, light industrial, storage and possible gym use, with parking for up to 50 vehicles..

National chains have already taken space, the firm says, with 12,000sqft remaining available.

Christchurch business REIDsteel has designed and manufactured the steel frames, decking, cladding, glazing and doors.

The steelwork will be put up on the site when the coronavirus restrictions allow. It will use 65 tonnes of British steel as well as British-made Tata composite panels for cladding.

Mr Wilson said: “Jan Dibden, our financial director, and his team have successfully headed up this project and we have been delighted to work with REIDsteel a local firm. We all look forward to seeing this development progress as soon as conditions allow.”

REIDsteel managing director Simon Boyd said: “We work across the UK, Europe and the world so it is great to work on a project a little closer to home.

“We have been able to provide our design, fabrication and manufacturing expertise for the entire building envelope, including its cladding, glazing and decking requirements.”