THE first framework at the £50million Burnley Bridge Business Park has been completed.

The site’s developer, Eshton Group, has hailed the construction of the 29,000 square feet warehousing unit at Magnesium Court as a ‘major milestone’.

Construction of the first phase of accommodation triggers the release of a £3.85million grant from the European Regional Development Fund and a £2.4million loan from the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership’s Growing Places scheme.

Building is also underway at the 64,100 square foot Cobalt Building and work on the 15,000 square foot Lithium House, at the entrance of the park, has been earmarked to start in the second quarter of 2014.

A spokeswoman for Eshton Group said they were pleased there had been ‘a lot of interest’ from firms keen to secure units at the site, but that no contracts had been signed.

James Chapman, managing director of Eshton Group, said: “With the steel frame now completed at Magnesium Court, and the new bridge that will connect the business park to the M65 due for completion at the end of the month, Burnley Bridge Business Park is now really taking shape.

“This is the biggest industrial park development on the M65 corridor for 10 years and we are already receiving strong interest from regional operators across a variety of industry sectors.

“We are confident that such high-calibre and flexible industrial and warehousing accommodation in a prominent location, with direct access to the motorway network, will not remain on the market for long.”

Many of the remaining properties that will be built at the business park will be constructed to the specifications of tenants who sign up.

Burnley Council leader, Julie Cooper, said: “The Burnley Bridge development will unlock the massive potential that the site has in terms of attracting businesses into the borough and creating new jobs.

“The development further reinforces Burnley’s reputation as open for business and a great place for business.”