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Bosses welcome new ‘super shed’ plan on Teesside
TEES bosses have welcomed another ‘super shed’ development in the area.
Backers behind the 104-acre site at Heighington Lane West at Newton Aycliffe - described as “one of the largest business developments of its kind in the country” - said they are already in talks with several prospective tenants for a 1m sq ft building - similar in size to that proposed for Teesport and rivalling the largest at the upcoming Durham Tees Valley Airport distribution park.
Both welcomed the news, saying the scheme would attract further investment and opportunities to the area.
Kerry Quinn, newly appointed director of Durham Tees Valley Airport, said it posed no threat to the Skylink International Business Park development, which will create a large-scale freight distribution centre and boost cargo through the airport.
“Growth attracts further growth,” she said.
“I seem to remember people saying that Nissan would take jobs away from the smaller companies when it came to the region. The opposite happened, with many jobs created throughout the supply chain.”
Martyn Pellow, managing director of PD Ports - which is planning a £50m, 1.2m sq ft import centre next to Asda-Walmart - said the Newton Aycliffe development would be “a shot in the arm” for the region.
He said: “Investments like this put the Tees Valley on the map and attract people to the area. I’d be interested to find out who the tenant will be. Perhaps it will bring further opportunities to the port.”
Asda Walmart, already operates a 360,000 sq ft centre from the dock. But the new shed at Teesport will be almost four times the size and is likely to trigger a £10m-£20m upgrade of the freight rail link between the port and the east coast mainline.
The Newton Aycliffe scheme also boasts good road and rail links. The site at Heighington Lane West is owned by Durham County Council and Sedgefield Borough Council. It is situated next to a railway line, which could be used to transport large volumes of freight in and out of the area, although the Darlington to Bishop Aukland branch line is not part of the development at the moment. A spokesman said the possibility of creating a rail head was being mooted, however.
Talks are currently underway with potential tenants to fill the properties.
Kevin Storey, a partner at Cushman & Wakefield, agents for the Newton Aycliffe developers Merchant Place, said: “There are few development sites of this size still available in the country, and with such good transport links it seems to provide an excellent potential location for business premises.”
Stewart Watkins, managing director of County Durham Development Company said the scheme would create “significant numbers” of new jobs.
