Winchester MP Mark Oaten is pictured here cutting the ribbon to celebrate the completion of the new £7m business units at Moorside Place on the cathedral city's Winnall Industrial Estate.

The local contractors are the well known local firm Rok, with agents Vail Williams and Palmer Fry offering the freeholds, or leases, to local business people.

Investment manager Commercial Management, which manages investments of more than £100m across the country, has been overseeing the build on behalf of the owners, Maple House Investments, which purchased the property more than two years ago.

Close to the M3 motorway and the city centre, the development provides modern high specification premises.

Units range from about 2,454 sq ft (228 sq m) to 5,360 sq m (498 sq m), including 50 per cent office content.

It is understood there has been "lots of interest" and enquiries, with advanced discussions on two of the larger units and positive negotiations on the remaining small unit, with one already under offer.

Irene Williams, from Southampton based commercial property agency Vail Williams, said: "We are delighted that Mark Oaten was able to officiate at this ceremony. The need for high quality business premises in the Winchester area continues to grow, and we are very pleased that these units are now available to buy or lease".

The site was previously the Webb food processing factory, and it has a completed development value of about £7m.