With 21 of its empty units being let to businesses since March this year, the manager of the park is confident Driffield will weather the economic storm.

Eighteen of the businesses trading from the park were new to Driffield when they moved in, creating new jobs and bringing more money into the town's economy.

Martin McKilroy runs the park, which opened on Skerne Road one year ago, and said he expects the remaining two large units and three small ones to be let by the end of this year.

"It's been a great project to be involved with," he said. "It's like one big family here, everyone helps each other and gets on very well.
"We have only got two large units and three small ones left now and I envisage those being taken before the year is out."

The first business to take a unit at the park was Autosaurus, specialising in the modification of Japanese supercars.

They have been followed by other well-established companies including Robert Croft Haulage, MRS Car Clinic Bio Fuels UK, Eastgate Van Hire and Refrigeration On The Wolds and new start-ups such as mechanic Steve Barker, mechanic and welder Sam Jackson, Ellis Car Sales and The Valet Centre.

Mr McKilroy said: "All we need now is an MOT station here. We are in negotiation with a couple of local companies and we hope to be closing a deal with one of them before the end of October for a 5,000sq ft unit.."

Next year will see the start of a new build phase but Mr McKilroy put the park's runaway success up to now down to offering clients the exact size and specification of unit which they require.

A location close to Driffield town centre is also an advantage and means workers based there can often walk or cycle to work.
Mr McKilroy paid tribute to the support offered by new business director, Tim Whittaker, and chairman of Prospect Estates, the company which owns the park, John Lund.

He said: "We have worked very hard as a team. With an open-minded and positive attitude backed by the substantial resources of a company such as Prospect Estates Ltd we have given Driffield's economy a real boost.
"It's wonderful to see local people running successful businesses. I would like to say a big thankyou to everyone involved, our clients, the tradesmen and the suppliers."