CHEAPER land costs have prompted a bathroom furniture business from Gloucester to relocate at the Hereford Enterprise Zone.

The Woodstock Trading Company will set up its business base on a three-acre site on Skylon Park, Rotherwas, from January.

With an existing workforce of 45, the company aims to create an additional 20 jobs during its first three years in Hereford.

Skylon Park is the 72-acre site designated as the Enterprise Zone of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, the private sector-led organisation tasked with revitalising the economy of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

Ben Doouss, managing partner of the Woodstock Trading Company, said: “To a growing business like ours, Skylon Park was an attractive proposition. Not only are land costs up to 50 per cent cheaper here compared to Gloucester, the speed at which we could get permission and build the new premises was a great incentive.

“The business rate relief is also a welcome inducement as every penny helps when you are expanding your business.”

The zone has already attracted major developments including a regional centre for Western Power Distribution and construction industry supplier Marches Global.

The majority of the land in the Zone, 80 percent, is owned by Herefordshire Council with the remainder owned by the Goodwin Trust.