A TOPPING out ceremony is to be held today (Thursday) to celebrate a major milestone in the £3.46-million project at Pitts Cleave, near Tavistock, to create five industrial units and 15 starter units. The topping out marked the completion of the main structural work on the units which, when finished, will support an estimated 50 jobs and provide much-needed employment space in West Devon. The project is a partnership between the South West of England Regional Development Agency and West Devon Borough Council. It is being supported by an investment of just over £1-million from the Objective 2 European funding programme, with the remainder of the funds coming from the Council and the South West RDA. Work started on site in April and the main structural works on the units are now complete, including the majority of the external walls and roofing. Work is already under way to prepare for the internal fit-out and mechanical and engineering installations. The units are being built by Kier Western and are scheduled for completion in April 2006. The buildings have been designed with a range of innovative features to minimise their environmental impact, including skylights and light tubes to maximise the use of daylight, soakaways for handling rainwater and an on-site plant to treat sewerage from the buildings. Work has already taken place to drill 12 80m-deep bore holes for an eco-friendly geo-thermal heating system, harnessing the natural heat in the ground deep beneath Dartmoor. Part of the site will also feature a heating system powered by a biomass boiler burning wood pellets from local timber merchants - a near carbon neutral activity as the carbon released is absorbed by the growing of new fuel crops to be turned in to pellets. Cllr Jayne Hill, Mayor of West Devon, said: ?I am delighted that we are providing 15 units for new businesses as part of this high quality development. We will be looking to accommodate new businesses with good prospects for growth. ?We hope that the first occupiers will move on after two or three years, providing space for other new businesses. ?This development is an important part of delivering the council?s commitment to ensure economic prosperity in the borough.? Mark Wray, project consultant with the South West RDA, said: ?The buildings will deliver much needed employment space and quality local jobs to West Devon, and they are being equipped with a range of innovative technology which will help protect the environment.?
