By Martin Walker
A leading group of chartered surveyors in the region has ranked Aycliffe Business Park as one of eight industrial property “hot spots” in the County Durham and Tees Valley area.
Chartered surveyors Sanderson Weatherall, which markets a large bulk of commercial property in Newton Aycliffe, operate across the Tees Valley from their Stockton offices, as well as in parts of County Durham and North Yorkshire, with expertise in the industrial, retail and office markets.
They say Aycliffe Business Park is ranked alongside Belasis Business Park in Billingham and Preston Farm Industrial Estate, in Stockton, as hot spot areas.
Partner Jonathan Simpson said: “The industrial sector is strong at the moment.
“In the 12 months to April, we concluded over 65 industrial deals, selling or letting over 1.2m sq ft of space.
“There are hot spots across the area, largely in the Tees Valley, but also in County Durham, which reflect the region’s heritage as the industrial heart of Britain.”
The eight hot spots highlighted by Sanderson Weatherall are:
• Aycliffe Business Park, Newton Aycliffe
• Belasis Business Park, Billingham
• Kirkleatham Business Park, in Redcar
• Peterlee Industrial Estates, in Peterlee
• Portrack Lane, Stockton
• Preston Farm Industrial Estate, in Stockton
• Queen’s Meadow Business Park, in Hartlepool
• Teesside Industrial Estate, in Thornaby
Jonathan added: “In each of these areas, we have concluded important, landmark deals or have significant interest in sites which, when sold or let, will bring employment opportunities to the area.
“There is no doubt that the work of Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership, in promoting areas such as Kirkleatham Business Park within the area’s Enterprise Zone, has made a big difference, as we saw with Allied Fittings coming to Redcar earlier this year.
“However, areas such as Aycliffe Business Park are thriving on their own, with employers such as Ebac expanding into a new 150,000 sq ft facility.”
Stephen Catchpole, Managing Director of Tees Valley Unlimited, the Local Enterprise Partnership for Tees Valley, said: “The research by Sanderson Weatherall demonstrates how the strategies we have drawn up, with our stakeholders and partners, have created a compelling business offering and environment that are attracting companies to Tees Valley business parks.”
Other highlights included the sale of eight acres to Tracerco at Belasis, the sale of 150,000 sq ft to Tinsley Special Products at Preston Farm, Stockton On Tees and the expansion of Propipe in Hartlepool.