Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business Issue 39 | Page 5

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 5 /NEWS A CGI of how one of the business units may look at Forrest Park. BUSINESS BRIEFS RECOGNITION FOR BETTER HEALTH AT WORK AWARD £140m business park takes step closer as plans submitted D evelopers have submitted a planning application to deliver a £140m development – with more than 1.75 million sq ft of accommodation – on Aycliffe Business Park, which could create thousands of new jobs. Joint venture company Forrest Park Newton Aycliffe, supported by leading commercial property developers Richardson Barberry, has applied to Durham County Council for outline planning consent for the expansion of Aycliffe Business Park on the 116-acre Forrest Park site located on Junction 59 of the A1(M). The proposals include a range of business, industrial and distribution units varying in size from 30,000 sq ft to 500,000 sq ft, a trade park consisting of 11 units from 5,000 sq ft to 10,000 sq ft, and ancillary amenity uses including roadside food offerings, a public house and a restaurant. There is also the potential to accommodate a rail freight interchange. Forrest Park – which has attracted £13m funding from the Local Enterprise Partnership – could create 3,200 jobs and deliver a gross value added economic boost to the area of £495 million over the next 10 to 15 years. A planning decision is expected in April. The preparatory groundworks, site infrastructure including new substation, service connections and highways improvements known as the Forrest Park enabling works began in 2016 and have now been completed. Cllr Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “The submitting of this application is a major milestone towards delivering thousands of jobs to the Newton Aycliffe area.” Ben Holmes, director on behalf of Richardson, said: “It’s great to see the Forrest Park proposals making real progress and we are delighted to be working alongside both new and existing joint venture partners to deliver this important development. “This will be our fourth major project in the region in recent years, having already delivered two phases at Freemans Reach in Durham, and adding to our existing Milburngate project.” Aycliffe Business Park is already home to around 500 companies and around 10,000 employees. Stobart Group revealed as Tees airport operator S tobart Group has been revealed as the operator of Durham Tees Valley Airport following its return to public ownership. In January this year, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen’s plan to acquire the airport – which, at 11 miles away, is Newton Aycliffe’s nearest airport – was approved at a cabinet meeting of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, fulfilling the election pledge he made to the people of Tees Valley. The deal has seen Peel Group’s 89% shareholding in the airport and 819 acres of surrounding land transferred to the mayor and combined authority. Mayor Houchen confirmed that the planning application for 350 homes outside the airport terminal had been “withdrawn” and said that “there will be no residential development on this airport site”. Stobart Group will be responsible for the oversight and strategic development of the airport, and to implement a 10 Year Rescue Plan to increase passenger numbers to 1.4million, secure a low cost carrier by 2022, and drive the creation of 7,600 jobs. Stobart has a proven track record having successfully run London Southend Airport since 2008, which has seen immense growth; increasing passenger numbers from 5,000 in 2009 to 1.5million in 2018. Tees mayor Ben Houchen has secured a deal to take Durham Tees Valley Airport back into public ownership. Last June, the company signed a $300m deal with Ryanair, providing 13 routes to eight European countries from London Southend. According to official figures, it is one of the fastest expanding airports in the UK. The group also owns Carlisle Lake District Airport, which will re-open its doors in summer 2019 for the first time in 25 years. From July, Scotland’s airline Loganair will offer direct flights from Carlisle to Dublin, Belfast and London Southend. “We have been in discussions with Stobart for quite some time and have worked together on our 10 Year Rescue Plan that will help us see the airport become the success we know it can be,” said mayor Houchen. “Stobart is a huge company with significant experience, knowledge and expertise in the aviation sector.” Activities aimed at improving mental and physical wellbeing at work have earned Durham County Council a regional award. The Better Health at Work Award helps organisations set goals towards improving employees’ health whilst at work. It is a partnership project, led by the 12 local authorities in the North East, the NHS and the Northern TUC. The County Durham locality is managed and delivered by the Pioneering Care Partnership. 63% WOULD VOTE ‘REMAIN’ The Entrepreneurs’ Forum has released the results of its members’ business tracker survey which reveals that, if an EU Referendum was held now, 63% would vote to remain. However, in the research conducted in collaboration with Public Knowledge, 60% of business owners also believe there should not be another EU Referendum, with 17% favouring to leave with the Prime Minister’s deal and 10% with WTO terms. Just under 80% opted against another General Election being held before June 2019. AWARD FOR TEESPORT PD Ports, one of the UK’s major port operators, has been officially accredited with the internationally recognised quality mark of Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) for its operations at Teesport by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) affirming the Port’s efficient and robust processes to shippers worldwide. The accreditation recognises that a business’ customs controls and procedures are efficient and meet EU benchmarks. AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS The business magazine for Aycliffe Business Park We’re now working on the 40th issue of Aycliffe Today Business, due out in May. Advertising is from £75, and half-page advertorial features from just £250 (including print and online). Booking deadline is 5pm on Friday April 19 – to get involved call 01325 728024 or email [email protected]