A BUSINESS centre for start-up businesses in Wyre Forest will move to a new unit at Kidderminster's Hoo Farm Industrial Estate as part of a £730,000 investment by Wyre Forest District Council.

The district council opened the SPACE centre in 2014 to provide an 'incubation' base for start-up businesses, allowing them to grow over a three-year period before they secure permanent accommodation.

It has already been used by 40 businesses, but with only five years remaining on the lease, Wyre Forest District Council has agreed a deal with The Community Housing Group to buy out its former stores and offices at nearby Forest House.

Cllr Chris Rogers, cabinet member for economic regeneration and planning, said: “The existing SPACE building has been immensely successful in supporting growing businesses.

"The council only leases this unit and there is just another five years of the lease left to run, so we are delighted that we’ve been able to secure permanent accommodation through the purchase of another unit on the same industrial estate.

"This will enable us to expand our support for new and developing businesses as well as providing improved accommodation for our existing SPACE tenants.”

The tenants will be moved to the new unit in the spring when works to convert Forest House are expected to be completed.

Wyre Forest Council expects to complete the purchase by the end of March, and the new accommodation is expected to be available by the spring.

Cllr Howard Williams, Wyre Forest member champion for business and enterprise, said: "The good thing about Forest House is that it provides additional space that the council can let to new business start-ups, in addition to the relocation of our existing tenants.

"I’d encourage anyone in the district who is interested in finding accommodation to start up or grow their fledgling business to get in touch with us as soon as possible as we expect demand to be high."