A FIRST tenant has been signed up for new £9 million business units at Thorp Arch Estate near Wetherby.

New-start business CPL Precision Engineering, which makes parts for the telecoms and aerospace industries, has taken a 1,150 sq ft workshop at Moat House Square, one of 21 high-quality small business units, totalling 25,600 sq ft.

Managing director Chris Edmondson and engineering director, Paul Foster, who have more than 40 years combined experience in the telecoms and aerospace industries have taken a small workshop unit after starting their business last month.

Mr Edmondson said: "We are a small new-start manufacturing venture, which is now quite rare, but so far business is very good. We have also gained work manufacturing parts for the bespoke Harley Davidson market and hope to do the same for bespoke cars.

Building work started on the new development, which also includes five larger warehouse, distribution or workshop units, totalling 44,280 sq ft, almost a year ago under the direction of Rockspring Property Investment Managers, fund managers for Hanover Property Unit Trust which owns the 385-acre estate.

Updated: 11:31 Tuesday, June 28, 2005