A major development next door to Hitachi Rail which was close to being derailed is now back on track, with permission for a revised plan being submitted to councillors.
Durham County Council agreed in October 2019 to rescue the Station Place development after agreeing to a 30-year head-lease on Merchant Anglo’s next phase of the Merchant Park industrial scheme on Aycliffe Business Park.
The original plans, first revealed by Aycliffe Today in June 2018, were for three large-scale plots totalling 25 acres.
The plans were downsized to smaller units and at the end of 2019 it was announced the units will be managed by Business Durham, the economic development arm of Durham County Council, and could be completed by autumn 2020 – a year later than originally planned.
Developer Merchant Anglo – the company which brought Hitachi to Aycliffe – have now submitted a new planning application for their next phase at Merchant Park.
To be called Station Place, the £4.8m scheme will provide 50,333 sq ft in 10 new starter units, in sizes from 3,000 sq ft.
Planners say work should start next month (October) with units available from next summer.
Merchant director Geoff Hunton said: “We realised there was a shortfall of modern fit for purpose units in Newton Aycliffe to support new and growing business in conjunction with our partners Business Durham.
“At Merchant Park, home of Hitachi, we want to be able to support business of all sizes and hopefully one day, when the business park is full, they can all support each other.”
Sarah Slaven, interim managing director at Business Durham, said: “We are delighted to be working with Merchant Anglo to bring forward this exciting development.
“I’m sure Station Place will very quickly become a key part of the wider Aycliffe Business Park, which is already the biggest industrial estate in the North-East.
“As the economy moves into the recovery phase we are working with partners to create an environment where businesses can thrive and grow.
“High-standard facilities, such as these, are a fantastic opportunity for local companies to find space to expand while staying in the region.”
