Up to 100 jobs are set to be created with nine new units planned for a Southam industrial estate.

The scheme will provide units of between 2,000 - 15,000sq ft, ideal for small to medium sized businesses looking to expand.

The site at Holywell Business Park forms part of the established Kineton Road Industrial Estate and will use land that has been unused for years.  

The 42,000sq ft scheme has been approved by Warwickshire County Council and will be built by Warwickshire Property and Development Group - the council's delivery company. 

"I'm delighted to see Warwickshire Property and Development Group take on its first development project which will bring a welcome boost to the local economy," said Cllr Peter Butlin, deputy leader and portfolio holder for finance and property.

"We have an ambitious programme to work with partners and external developers who share the same vision as us, taking a holistic approach to building successful, sustainable and high-quality developments. 

"This is why we launched the new company, to fuse the financial support and business acumen of Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire Property and Development Group board members and staff, so we can invest in innovative and environmentally-sustainable developments.  

"This will form a major part of Warwickshire County Council's post Covid-19 economic recovery and WPDG will be our partner of choice in making our county an even more attractive place to live and do business." 

WPDG was launched by the council in the summer of 2021 to build new affordable and market priced homes and a range of commercial, mixed use and renewable energy opportunities across the county. 

Stuart Buckley, development group managing director said: "This is an exciting milestone for WPDG as it is the first scheme to be signed off and meets with the vision and objectives of the Group to be providing new economic activity in the County for local residents.

"This scheme will meet a gap in the market for space for SMEs who are the lifeblood to the economy.   

"WPDG will play an important role in shaping Warwickshire as a place to invest, live and thrive. It will help the county's economic recovery, providing new housing and creating jobs, shaping the county as an attractive and desirable place to live, and do business." 

Planning application for the site is expected to be submitted in the spring with work beginning in Autumn 2022.