Hundreds of new jobs could soon be created on a new business park in Stratford-upon-Avon, after the district council agreed a £1.6m deal with a local developer. 

Color Estates Ltd is buying 6.2 acres of land, subject to contract, for a high-tech innovation and research centre on the Shottery Brook Business Park, which is owned by Stratford District Council.

The council's management committee approved the sale of the land just before Christmas, which now releases the whole development to two local businesses - Color Estates, and the Stratford-based Finelist Group who already have part of the business park allocated for their new headquarters.

The 12 acre site off Timothy's Bridge Road near Bishopton has been earmarked for commercial development by Stratford District Council since the 1980s.

The council is allocating some £2.5m for improvements to Bishopton Lane and a new spine road to link the business park with Timothy's Bridge Road. It will eventually provide a through route from the town's Mason Road industrial estate onto the A46 northern bypass.

"The development of this land has been one of the district council's major objectives for many years and we intend it to be a prestigious commercial gateway into Stratford," 

said Cllr Jean Holder, the chairman of the district council's management committee.

"After agreeing to sell part of the site to Finelist for their new offices, there were advantages in selling all the remaining plots to a single buyer, such as lower legal and selling costs, and the ability to achieve a more co-ordinated development.

"Another key factor was that Color Estates have agreed to maintain Shottery Brook in accordance with an approved landscape management plan, as it will form an important part of the local ecology and setting for the business park."

The road construction and improvements will be carried out by Warwickshire County Council on behalf of the district council, with works due to start in March 2000 and be completed by November 2000. 

Color Estates' proposal, subject to planning approval, of an innovation centre with offices, research and development could be ready for occupation by early 2001.

Chase Midland, who are funding the Finelist development, are shortly expected to submit plans for a revised design to their building. Subject to approval, their construction could start on site in April 2000 with an estimated occupation date of April 2001.