THERE is hope the new Saltpans Park site will provide the required space for local ‘Fred in a shed’ businesses.

Confederation of Guernsey Industry chairman Peter Budwin said he was encouraged to hear on Wednesday that the development on the 16-acre industrial site would accommodate smaller businesses because finding facilities for such operations had always been difficult.

But while optimistic about the plans, he doubted whether any small Guernsey firms would be planning a move at the moment because of the challenging economic environment, let alone in the first quarter of 2010 when owner of the site Saltpans Investments Ltd, part of the Long Port Group, expects the first occupants to be in place.

‘From the ones I have spoken to, there is no demand from my members for more space. I think that’s because no one is prepared to move or expand at the moment because of what’s going on and no-one is looking at starting new businesses.’

Saltpans Investments bought the former vinery for more than £7m. in May and began demolition of the derelict glasshouses and outbuildings in October.

Reproduced with the kind permission of the Guernsey Press