Steve and Andy, both from Sheffield, are employed by ground engineering specialist Stent, and have spent more than two weeks driving 9m concrete piles, which are jack-hammered by a piling rig into the ground, just off junction nine of the M27.

Allied Developments, the recently formed property company headed up by Carphone Warehouse founder and chief executive Charles Dunstone, acquired the 14-acre site, formally known as Solent 2, from Catalyst Capital this year.

Launched by appointed agents Hughes Ellard, Goadsby and John Bird Associates, Fulcrum is already attracting serious interest from companies keen to buy or lease even before foundations have been laid.

The first phase of the scheme is around 58,500 square feet of high quality industrial buildings to the rear of the site, known as Fulcrum 1.

To date two of the nine units are under offer, with the remainder ranging in size from 4,000 to 12,000 available to purchase or lease.

Fulcrum 2, 3, 4 and 5 will provide a mix of business accommodation of purpose-built offices, hi-tech buildings for research and development, two storey "business units" and light manufacturing.

Russell Mogridge, director of Southampton-to-Portsmouth business property specialist Hughes Ellard, said: "We are delighted with the interest in the scheme and are finding that companies are attracted to the unique working environment of established ancient woodland combined with fast access to the motorway network, enabling them to recruit and retain staff.

"We are also in serious discussions with companies wanting to build purpose-built hi-tech offices providing HQ office on the first floor with ground floor production and storage space. This is something that is not offered elsewhere."

Solent Business Park is one of Hampshire's biggest business success stories with more than 3,000 people working for 40 companies, including blue-chip financial giants Zurich and Abbey, serviced office provider Regus, NationalAir Traffic Services, legal specialist Shoosmiths, ITV subsidiary Meridian and The Mortgage Lender.