A business park costing £5 million has opened in the heart of Buttershaw, Bradford.

Royds Enterprise Park - which has taken two-and-a-half years to complete - already has more than a quarter of its units filled.

And negotiations with Bradford South West Primary Care Trust are under way.

Enterprise park manager Mike McKay, pictured, said: "With what the park has to offer, we hope to achieve 60 per cent occupancy within the first year."

The development off Beacon Road consists of one main building and 47 industrial units of different sizes surrounded by state-of-the-art perimeter fencing.

Mr McKay said: "Security was one of the main considerations when the plans were first drawn up and we took advice from the police.

"As a result, we have equipped the units with high-security doors and have installed CCTV cameras, good lighting and strong fencing."

Funding for the park came from a consortium comprising of Yorkshire Forward, Bradford Council, Royds Community Association and B&W Speakers.

Based on the regeneration principle of Royds Community Association, the enterprise park welcomes new businesses and offers a number of incentives to give them a helping hand.

Mr McKay said: "As part of the Government's Phoenix project, we are also here to offer advice and support to people from disadvantaged groups, such as the unemployed - to help them start their own businesses.

"We are able to offer discounted rent to try to help them in their early years when banks refuse them. We can also act as business mentors to offer guidance and support.

"They are more than just tenants to us."

Cleveland Harris, 35, who has recently established a fork-lift truck training company called Trainwise, said the help on offer gives the park something extra.

He said: "There is a lot on offer here that is not available anywhere else and it all helps. The facilities are first class and I can have access to conference rooms for training and make use of the offices. It's also good to know the help is there as a waterproof jacket if I need it."

Beacon Training has already moved to the park, making it even easier for new businesses to access training.

And with the park's location making it accessible for motorway and public transport users, it is hoped it will not be long before every unit in the park is occupied.

For more information about the Royds Enterprise Park call (01274) 355600.