Euro Garages to make multi-million pound investment into Ashwood Business Park

Ashwood Business Park in Northumberland is set to benefit from a £4 million investment from major international forecourt operator Euro Garages.

The company plans to build a circa 8000 sq ft development on the site in South East Northumberland, which will include a petrol filling station, convenience store, and drive-through Starbucks outlet.

It will create 50 full and part-time jobs, with a further 40 jobs through construction work. The scheme will provide important amenities and services for existing users on the site as well as local residents and passing trade upon the busy A189. It represents a new gateway offer that will illuminate and animate the entrance of this newly defined business park.

The 62-acre Ashwood Business Park was acquired by Advance Northumberland in 2018 and is at the heart of one of the North East’s strongest manufacturing clusters. It is a North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Enterprise Zone, meaning that organisations locating there can benefit from 100 per cent Enhanced Capital Allowances.

The vision for the site is to increase its presence as a new centre for advanced manufacturing, the process industry and the engineering sector in North East England. Ashwood Business Park is already home to a major AkzoNobel paint processing facility and the headquarters of housing provider Bernicia Homes.

Euro Garages, which is based in Blackburn, has exchanged conditional contracts with Ashwood Business Park owners Advance Northumberland to purchase the two-acre site and has submitted a planning application for the development.

The planned investment from Euro Garages marks another step forward in the development of Ashwood Business Park. In February this year, £2.7 million was secured from Advance Northumberland, Northumberland County Council and the North East LEP for infrastructure improvements to encourage further inward investment and growth projects at the site.

Richard Wearmouth, chair of Advance Northumberland said: “We’re delighted that Euro Garages has committed to building new amenities at Ashwood Business Park – and it’s fantastic to be welcoming a company of their calibre to the site.

“The petrol station and retail offering from Euro Garages will enhance Ashwood Business Park’s infrastructure and further boost its appeal to investors looking for a well-connected location within a vibrant manufacturing cluster and with a highly skilled workforce on the doorstep.

“Ashwood Business Park is a place where businesses can develop and expand, and we have seen from the success of AkzoNobel and Bernicia Homes how companies can thrive at this prime location.”

Neil Findlay, development manager, of Euro Garages, added: “We are delighted to exchange contracts with Advance Northumberland on this development site within the Ashwood Business Park. Working in close partnership with Advance Northumberland we firmly believe that our first in class roadside services will be an asset to the park and the wider Ashington area.”