AS work forges ahead at Solstice Park, the Amesbury Property Company has secured the 160-acre business park's first three occupiers.

Life Property has exchanged contracts to purchase a 0.78-acre site, which is to be developed for a 126-cover Pizza Hut restaurant.

Margram has bought a 0.61-acre plot for a petrol filling station, which it is anticipated will provide BP products.

The station will operate 24 hours a day and will include a 4,500sqft convenience store, and a jet and rollover car wash.

Finally, Whitbread has acquired an acre for a 180-cover Brewers Fayre pub/restaurant.

All three will be located in the roadside and leisure zone, together with the 149-bed hotel.

Details on the latter have yet to be released but work in this zone is expected to start in May and should be finished by November.

Cliff Whitley, development manager at APC, said: "We have started work on the infrastructure in this zone, putting in the roads, sewers etc.

"The contractors should finish this by the end of April, so, from May onwards, work will start on the new buildings, with a view to opening in October/November this year."

KFC is also expected to submit a planning application later this month and should open at the same time, subject to planning permission.

Mr Whitley said: "We are delighted that we have secured these first three deals, which establish a central service core for Solstice Park.

"There is already a great deal of interest in the development and we know that these facilities will prove an additional attraction to potential occupiers."