WORK has officially started on a £120 million technology park in Worcester - with the hope it will create 5,000 new jobs.

Construction is underway on Worcester Six, near Junction 6 of the M5, kicking off a mammoth project which will see a raft of units made available totalling 1.5 million square foot of floor space.

Bosses behind the big project say they want the site to be the main destination for high tech firms looking to relocate between Birmingham and Bristol.

Talks are ongoing with a range of firms interested in moving to the site, including overseas companies, with the first expected to move in some time in 2016.

The ambitious plans for the park have been in the pipeline for years and were first given outline planning approval in 2011, but suffered a major hit the following year when Worcester Bosch pulled out as the main anchor tenant.

But after funding was secured the county council has been intent on developing the site regardless, and is involved in serious negotiations over possible tenants, despite the park not due to be finished until 2017.

Councillor Simon Geraghty, deputy county council leader and cabinet member with responsibility for economy, skills and infrastructure, said: "Worcester Six is one of our four identified 'game-changer' sites across the county, which are key to realising the county's ambition of creating 25,000 new jobs by 2025 and making a stepped change in our economic potential, as set out in the county's 10-year economic plan.

"It's fantastic to see plans progressing, turning the ambitious plans, part of our world class Worcestershire vision into a reality."

Mark Stansfeld, chairman of Worcestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "Worcester Six is widely considered to be one of the best potential sites between Birmingham and Bristol."

Birmingham-based Stoford, which was handed the role as developer by landowners The Spetchley Estate, says off-site highways improvements will be the first noticeable piece of work.

Stoford director Gerard Ludlow said: “It is very exciting to see the progress being made already at Worcester Six and we are confident that we will be in a position to welcome the first occupiers towards the end of next year.

"The highways improvements are now underway and we are procuring for the on-site infrastructure and roads.

"The development, which is in a strategically very strong location, will attract high quality occupiers who will bring jobs and investment into the area."

For more details visit worcester6.co.uk.