Promoted
The region’s largest industrial park just got bigger
January 2, 2023
County Durham’s commercial environment has expanded after work was completed on units at Newton Aycliffe’s Station Place. Here, Business Durham, the business support service of Durham County Council, highlights the economic and employment potential of the development.
Work on a £4.8 million County Durham industrial scheme that will create more than 130 jobs is now complete and ready for tenants to move in.
Ten industrial units at Station Place, in Newton Aycliffe, have been built, representing more than 50,500sq ft of space.
Designed to support new and expanding businesses, the units vary in size up to 8700sq ft, and are available for occupation immediately.
Station Place is part of the wider £90 million Merchant Park industrial scheme – a 65-acre development at Aycliffe Business Park, located off junction 59 of the A1(M).
The park is home to more than 500 companies employing around 10,000 people, including international firms such as Hitachi Rail, Husqvarna, 3M, Gestamp and Lidl.
As the biggest single employment area in the North East, and one of the largest business parks in the UK, Aycliffe Business Park is a strategically important site for economic development within County Durham and the wider North East.
Durham County Council has agreed a 35-year-lease to support the development of the industrial units.
Managed by Business Durham, the business support service of the council, the units are part of its extensive industrial property portfolio.
The development was delivered in partnership with Merchant Anglo and Rokeby Developments.
Businesses taking up the units will benefit from the convenience of being in a newly-built facility.
In addition, all units have a ‘B’ energy efficiency rating, so businesses can enjoy lower utility bills and reduced maintenance costs.
There is also capability to install electric car charging points and superfast fibre optic broadband within all units.
Councillor James Rowlandson, cabinet member for resources, investment and assets at Durham County Council, says: “We’re thrilled to see the development of Station Place come to fruition.
“It will add much needed growth space to this strategically important hub, and bring genuine added value to the regional economy.
“Our Business Durham team looks forward to welcoming new tenants to the units and supporting their growth.
“Station Place is part of Durham County Council’s £2 billion programme of investment, either planned or underway, and our ambitious ten-year economic strategy, which is helping make the county an ideal location for investment and development.”
Geoff Hunton, director at Merchant Anglo, says: “Demand for quality industrial property has remained high in the area, with a renewed focus on expansion and the need to future-proof supply chains in the post-pandemic era.
“There’s also continued high demand due to changes in the market caused by COVID-19, growing online demand and Brexit.”
Adrian Goodhall, of Rokeby Developments, the development manager for Merchant Anglo, adds: “In addition to having fantastic access to key road, rail, air and sea links, businesses at Station Place will be part of a thriving employment hub that caters for a wide variety of industries.
“We expect to see strong demand for these high-quality units.”