A lighting business which has moved to Bradford from Leeds has underlined its commitment to the city by investing nearly £2 million in new land and premises.

Loxton Lighting, which is based in the historic tram terminus building in Leeds Road, Thornbury, has bought the remaining 120,000 sq ft of the site in addition to its own 75,000 sq ft headquarters.

Much of the newly-acquired site is occupied by office furniture and metal storage business Flexiform which has signed a ten-year lease with the new owners for its warehouse.

But it also includes a substantial amount of land adjoining the site which could be used for further development.

Today Loxton Lighting managing director and founder David Loxton said the deal reflected his confidence in Bradford as a city in which to do business.

"We are really pleased and think we have done a good deal," he said. "I think it is good for us to have the whole site because I believe there is so much potential here, long term.

"Eventually we might look to house some sort of retail or trade development because there is a lot of car parking available and hopefully that would mean even more investment in Bradford."

Mr Loxton said the firm had a good relationship with Flexiform and the two companies were also working together on potential export opportunities in China.

Flexiform managing director Nick Hewitt, who led a management buy-out of the company, said he was pleased with the tie-up.

"It works very well for us and there is a good relationship between ourselves and David," he said.

"It is mutually beneficial but we remain committed to the site and remaining as a local employer."

Alan Wintersgill, partner at Bradford accountants Naylor Wintersgill which worked on the deal, said: "It is good when businesses of this calibre are prepared to commit to Bradford. The company is really going from strength to strength."

Andy Lowther, relationship manager at NatWest Commercial Banking in Bradford which raised the finance for the move, also welcomed the deal.

"We have worked with David and Loxton Lighting for many years and have been impressed by their ability to identify opportunities and act on them quickly," he said.