Plans for a new retail development at a Northumberland business park could create around 90 jobs.
The scheme at Ashwood Business Park, near Ashington, will see forecourt operator Euro Garages invest £4m to create an 8,000 sq ft development with a petrol filling station, convenience store and drive-through Starbucks outlet.
The scheme aims to create 50 full-time jobs plus another 40 in the construction phase.
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It will also add amenities to the growing business park, which has enterprise zone status.
The 62-acre Ashwood Business Park was acquired by Advance Northumberland in 2018 and is at the heart of one of the North East’s strongest manufacturing clusters, with Enterprise Zone status giving businesses that base themselves there 100% Enhanced Capital Allowances.
The overall vision for the site is to increase its presence as a new centre for advanced manufacturing, the process industry and the engineering sector in North East England, and it is already home to an AkzoNobel paint processing facility and the headquarters of housing provider Bernicia Homes.
Euro Garages, which is based in Blackburn, has exchanged conditional contracts with Ashwood Business Park owners Advance Northumberland to purchase the two acre site and it has submitted a planning application for the development.
The planned investment from Euro Garages marks another step forward in the development of Ashwood Business Park, following on from £2.7m secured from Advance Northumberland, Northumberland County Council and the North East LEP for infrastructure improvements to encourage further inward investment and growth projects at the site.
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Last year, a new masterplan for Ashwood Business Park was revealed by Advance Northumberland, with a vision to create a centre for manufacturing excellence, an employment hub and a primed site capable of development ready for significant inward investors.
Richard Wearmouth, chair of Advance Northumberland said: “The petrol station and retail offering from Euro Garages will enhance Ashwood Business Park’s infrastructure and further boost its appeal to investors looking for a well-connected location within a vibrant manufacturing cluster and with a highly skilled workforce on the doorstep.
“Ashwood Business Park is a place where businesses can develop and expand, and we have seen from the success of AkzoNobel and Bernicia Homes how companies can thrive at this prime location.”
Neil Findlay, development manager of Euro Garages said: “Working in close partnership with Advance Northumberland we firmly believe that our first in class roadside services will be an asset to the park and the wider Ashington area.”
Andrew Moffat, chair of the investment board at the North East LEP, said: “The arrival of Euro Garages to Ashwood Business Park will further cement this Enterprise Zone as a very attractive prospect for investors. The site is in a prime location and businesses locating there will benefit from tax breaks and a range of interventions – we look forward to this site attracting many more businesses and creating more and better jobs for our residents.”