Hull-based MKM Builders Merchants has bought one-and-a-half acres of land for a new trade centre and Porvair has commissioned the park developers to design and build an office unit.

Although Porvair no longer has its main manufacturing base at Lynn, it has kept its UK headquarters in the town and plans to use the new 3,160 sq ft of office space as its administration base, moving there from its existing premises at North Lynn early next year.

Work on the builders' trade centre is due to start shortly. At present MKM's closest centres to Lynn are at Norwich and Skegness.

Regis Place is a two-and-a-half acre site on the junction of Hamburg Way and Bergen Way and is being developed by Huntingdon-based Artisan (UK) Developments.

The company bought the site late last year to provide Lynn with high-specification office accommodation for smaller businesses.

There will be seven self-contained two-storey air-conditioned office units each with parking space and varying in size from 1,516 sq ft to 11,504 sq ft. They will be available for sale or let.

"It is the first time that top quality, contemporary office space will be available off-the-peg in Lynn," said John Weston, commercial agent with Brown and Co which is marketing the new development.

"These are the sort of premises that, until now, would have been seen at Norwich, Cambridge and Peterborough."