THE site for a proposed new business park in Thirsk has been acquired by Harrogate-based Marrtree Investments.

The firm has acquired the 1.2 acre employment site at the Sowerby Gateway development, which has planning permission to build six new business units.

The Gateway Business Park is the designated employment area of the 900-home Sowerby Gateway scheme. Marrtree is the first developer to acquire an employment site on the business park’s initial phase.

William Marshall, director at Marrtree, said: “Gateway Business Park has enormous potential as a new centre of employment and we’re excited to be the first developer on site.

“This new scheme will be Marrtree’s 20th business park and as a Yorkshire firm we’re really proud to have been instrumental in creating hundreds of much needed jobs.”

When Marrtree’s new development is completed, in early 2019, it is expected to create around 40 new jobs.