WORK on a £150million business park which will create almost 5,000 jobs is well underway.

New rugby pitches have been laid out for the new Westcliff RFC base after the club moved to make way for the Saxon Business Park, off Cherry Orchard Way, Rochford. Rochford District councillors are currently considering plans for a new clubhouse.

Phase one of the development is on schedule for completion in August. It includes infrastructure, roads and drainage works, as well as work to install utilities.

The park, being built by developer Henry Boost Construction, is mostly being funded by the Government.

Southend Council said negotiations with various potential occupiers of the business park are taking place. Discussions are at different stages of agreement.

Emma Cooney, the council’s director of regeneration and business development, said: “Our overall plans will generate thousands of new jobs in attractive, modern business space near London Southend Airport and are crucial to the area’s future prosperity.

“We are very pleased that so much work is underway with replacement rugby pitches constructed and seeded, the application for a new clubhouse submitted to Rochford District Council, and the first phase of road and services infrastructure well underway and on schedule for completion in the summer.”

She added: “At the same time as the progress across the site we have experienced a robust level of enquiries from both the local and regional occupier communities and look forward to furthering those discussions with the agency teams and our partner Henry Boot Developments in the weeks and months ahead.”

The site, which will create 4,815 jobs, will include a 90-bedroom hotel, a pub and restaurant, and be home to big name firms and high-tech businesses.

It is understood Anglia Ruskin University’s MedTech campus will be at the heart of it, alongside businessess specialising in the innovation and engineering sectors.

For businesses wanting to hear more about the development, Henry Boot Developments will be at the Southend Business Briefing on Thursday, June 15 from 8.30am to 10am at the Royal Pavilion, on Southend Pier.

Visit abp-southend.com for further information.