JUST eight months after work started on phase two of a major business park in Fenland, plans are under way for a third phase.

Fenland District Council will open the �770,000 second phase of the South Fens Business Centre, in Chatteris, next month but this week announced fresh expansion.

Fenland District Council is to put �410,000 towards the third phase following a decision by Cambridgeshire County Council to chip in with �250,000 of funding.

The county council also gave �200,000 towards phase two together with �220,000 from EEDA.

Councillor Chris Seaton, the council’s open for business portfolio holder, said: “Further external funding opportunities are being explored to supplement the council’s investment and signs are positive.”

He also announced a new letting and a downsizing relocation has increased occupancy levels at South Fens to 88 per cent.

“There are now just seven vacant units and overall occupancy exceeds the year end target by three per cent,” he said.

During July South Fens Business Centre hosted 91 meetings and conferences, producing a gross income of just over �3,400. The total conference income for the year to date is just over �19,400.

Cllr Seaton said: “July and August are traditionally quiet months for conference income, with the holiday season affecting overall income.”

There was more good news on the council’s 61 light industrial units across the district where occupancy levels are up to 89 per cent.

And at the Boathouse Business Centre, in Wisbech, the council remains pleased with progress and in recent weeks one company has taken five of the available units.

It has given a fillip to the Boathouse caf�, the council was told, and conference income was just over �5,500 in July. Total income for the year to date is more than �27,400, which is in excess of target.