Major milestone for multi-million-pound business park plans

Plans to create a major business park with the potential to create thousands of new jobs and boost County Durham’s economy by £400 million have been approved by councillors.Our planning committee yesterday (Tuesday 1 December) voted in favour of developing the site at Aykley Heads, but, given the significant scale of the scheme, we are required to refer the application to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. This means, subject to the minister’s approval, work will begin on the first phase of Aykley Heads Business Park in early 2021.The first phase will see the creation of 3,500 square metres of flexible office space within a three-storey building and 60 car parking spaces to the north of the site. We are investing £6 million towards the cost of the project, with the remaining £6 million allocated from the Government’s Getting Building Fund, which aims to deliver jobs, skills and infrastructure across the country.This will create up to 300 jobs, while acting as a catalyst for the wider masterplan for the site and putting County Durham firmly on the map as a location for office space.Maximising economic growthAs well as the detailed plans for the first phase, the hybrid application approved by councillors also includes outline plans for developing the remainder of the site, which incorporates land currently occupied by our headquarters, County Hall. In January 2018, our Cabinet agreed to create a new smaller headquarters at the Sands car park in Durham city to pave the way for the business park. The new headquarters build is now well advanced, with external works largely finished. Once complete, it will provide a base for 1,000 council staff, boosting footfall and trade in Durham city centre, as well as in Crook and Seaham where other employees will be relocated.The vision for Aykley Heads is to create a new and unique business location for the North East that maximises economic growth in County Durham and delivers jobs in new and growing sectors. It is one of five designated strategic employment sites across the county and part of our longstanding mission to bring more and better jobs to the area, bridging the gap in its economic performance with other parts of the region.The scheme’s first two phases have the potential to create 4,000 jobs and it is estimated a further 1,800 jobs will be supported in the construction of the park.Keeping major projects on trackToday’s milestone reflects our commitment to keeping major projects on track during the pandemic in recognition of the important role they will play in ensuring the county’s long-term economic resilience.It follows further good news from the county’s other strategic employment sites, with Jade Business Park near Seaham, Integra 61 at Bowburn, and Forrest Park at Newton Aycliffe all welcoming their first tenants this year. The £5 million expansion of NETPark at Sedgefield, meanwhile, is also underway and set to create up to 1,400 jobs. In total, the five strategic employment sites are set to bring 15,000 jobs to the county.Prime locationWhen the first two phases are complete, Aykley Heads Business Park will provide up to 38,468sq m of floorspace and be divided into six plots, with each plot providing office buildings and car parking spaces. ‘Character zoning’ will be used to create distinctiveness, while green spaces and paths will provide a pleasant environment for workers, residents and visitors alike. The site also benefits from close links to the East Coast Main Line and other public transport, as well as cycling routes.Welcome newsIt is already home to a number of businesses, including the business and IT consultancy Waterstons.A commitment to the futureJames Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, has also welcomed the planning committee’s decision.