Rayleigh and Wickford MP Mark Francois recently paid a visit to the site for the new Airport Business Park, adjacent to Southend Airport.
The Business Park, which is located off Cherry Orchard Way, will provide for a million square feet of office and industrial space, where the jobs potential over the next several years is believed to be in the order of 5,000 jobs. The site will also include a hotel and an “innovation centre” which will be optimised to provide space for new start-up businesses, particularly in the high-tech and internet based industries.
The project, which involves cooperation between both Rochford District Council and Southend Borough Council is being managed by property experts Henry Boot Ltd and is due to be built out over the next few years. During his visit Mark was shown some of the new roads which have already been put in place and areas where some of the first new office and factory buildings will be assembled.
Commenting on his visit to the Airport Business Park, Mark said:
“This was a really encouraging visit to a site which is likely to generate thousands of jobs in the South East Essex area and which will, therefore, be a real benefit to my constituents and those living nearby as well. A number of the businesses on the park are likely to be linked to Southend Airport, which itself is an area that is garnering new investment and employment. Having seen this Park in its early stages, I now look forward to seeing these buildings come out of the ground and to new businesses investing in the South East Essex area as a result.”