HUNDREDS of jobs will be created when a new business park is built on Canvey.

Construction on the Roscommon Way business park is set to begin after a longstanding struggle to get work under way.

The new business park, which will be the size of around 12 football pitches is expected to create more 600 new jobs for residents living on Canvey.

The developers of the site, Inner London Group, have said that construction is expected to take around 18 months from start to finish.

Larry Fenttiman, a partner in the group is positive that interest will continue to grow in the new business park as work continues.

Mr Fenttiman said: “We are getting a lot of interest from trade people; manufacturers and distributors and a number of smaller businesses for the other units.”

Mr Fenttiman added that the larger units have already been snapped up by businesses based in south Essex.

He said: “I cannot name names, but one site has been taken from a large distributor in Rayleigh and another by an industrial company that employs quite a lot of people coming from another area of Essex.

“We have local companies that want to move as they have outgrown their current units.

“Whether you are a small business and you need a desk, or you want to create your own photography studio, there will be spaces available for everybody.”

There will also be a brand-new road built through the middle of the site.

A spokesman for Inner London Group had a message for Castle Point Council and residents on the island.

A statement said: “Inner London Group would like to thank Castle Point Council, and in particular the councillors and officers who supported the scheme.

“Without their efforts, it would not have been possible to bring forward a scheme on this scale to Canvey.”

The new park will be split up into four separate areas, three of which have already been sold or are currently under offer.

As well as large units, A huge new centre for small businesses to use as their base.

It is expected room will be made for around 50 new units.

A further 22 new units in another space will be made available in multiple sizes.

There will also be a brand-new road built through the middle of the site which businesses and shoppers will be able to use to get into the new park.

A spokesman added: “Building the whole of the new road through the site has allowed us to work on all four areas of the site, this will help deliver units quickly.”

The business park is in its second phase of building work, with the 22 units on sale for businesses to buy.