Construction and engineering work started this week on two of the key sites in the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone where 260,000 sq ft of employment space is now in the pipeline.

The scheme will provide a major boost for the city region’s manufacturing sector and the regional industrial property market.

Cllr Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and the economy said: “The Enterprise Zone offers unparalleled advantages in terms of its scale, connectivity, its proximity to Leeds city centre and to one of the UK’s biggest concentrations of manufacturing.

“That’s why the council has taken this proactive approach to secure funding in order to accelerate development, stimulate private sector investment and attract growth and jobs to the zone.”

Two new industrial units are being built at Thornes Farm by Stainforth Construction on behalf of Wilton Developments, providing 50,000 sq ft and a 30,000 sq ft of modern manufacturing space.

The £5 million speculative development is scheduled for completion in Summer 2015, paving the way for new jobs in the local area.

Engineering and ground remediation also gets underway this month at Temple Green. At 72 hectares, it is the largest of the development site within the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone.

Road infrastructure and ground engineering work costing over £7 million will deliver access to a series of development platforms with the ability to accommodate buildings up to 500,000 sq ft. Construction work on the park and ride facility is scheduled to start in Autumn 2015.

In November, work will begin on developing an 80,000 sq ft industrial unit at Logic Leeds site, where Muse Developments has planning permission for a total of 1.6m sq ft of industrial, distribution premises and supporting uses including offices and hotel development.