A FIVE-YEAR plan is getting underway in Marlow’s business heartland after firms agreed to hand over cash to improve the town’s industrial area.

A Business Improvement District (BID) will be created in the Globe Park and Fieldhouse Lane areas, where many of Marlow’s biggest employers are based, after companies voted in favour last month.

The recruitment process is now underway to hire a business park manager to oversee a raft of responsibilities including security, identity and branding and public transport issues.

Problems with parking in Marlow’s industrial areas, which has long been a bugbear for firms, will also be addressed, with the manager taking orders from a panel of business leaders.

Any changes will be implemented using nearly £1million over five years paid by the companies through a levy on business rates.

Martin Spittle, chairman of Marlow Chamber of Trade and Commerce, which represents the interests of more than 100 Marlow businesses, welcomed the move.

He said: "I’m really pleased there is going to be a multi-million pound investment in the area.

"I am sure over the next five years we will see a significant investment in the estate and that will really benefit Marlow as a whole."

Some of Marlow’s most successful growing businesses call the town’s industrial area home, including IT firm Softcat and a number of companies owned by Dragon’s Den entrepreneur Peter Jones.

The BID area stretches from Station Road to the A404 Marlow bypass roundabout, with about one million square feet, comprising about 20 large office buildings and numerous smaller ones.

Marlow property expert Paul Deriaz explained the changes at a chamber meeting this month, and said easing the traffic congestion problem around Globe Park was one of the ultimate goals.

And although he said public transport solutions wouldn’t happen "overnight", easing parking troubles should create a better environment on the area’s road network.

A single branding identity is also on the cards, making it easier to navigate the park and find specific businesses or services.

Plans have also been accepted for a huge new development at the former home of Volvo on Parkway.

Work will begin to totally transform the office on Parkway into an up-to-date 21st century home for an as-yet unconfirmed firm, after the Swedish car giant left in 2012.

A number of other planning applications have been submitted to regenerate and modernise other office blocks in the Globe Park area, many of which currently lie empty.