Aykley Heads office development

Durham holds the key to commercial success – no matter what the business, which sector it operates in, or the size of the company.

With a jigsaw of five key strategic sites covering the county the potential to unlock success is there for everyone – those looking to relocate, invest, launch a start-up or grow an existing business.

The sites are all backed by the advice and expertise of the County Council’s business support service, Business Durham, which provides the help companies need to turn plans into reality – delivering more and better jobs and millions of pounds in investment for the area.

It is indeed all about location, location, location, as Durham’s transport infrastructure is a logistical dream with close links to the A1M, East Coast Main Line, two airports and two of the UK’s busiest ports.

Aykley Heads

Aykley Heads in Durham is already home to a number of businesses delivering on the county’s business and economic strategy, including Atom Bank, Waterstons, Intelligence Fusion, Swinburne Maddison and the North East England Chamber of Commerce.

Aykley Heads is an exciting opportunity to further develop this first class city centre site with the potential to deliver new high-quality office space and thousands of jobs.

Along with leading science and technology park NETPark at Sedgefield, Aykley Heads has a focus on high-value jobs and the ‘innovation economy’.

Jade Business Park

Jade Business Park, at Murton offers 155,000 sq ft of quality new industrial space and is already a success story, with phase one now fully occupied.

Work is due to begin on phase two later this year, adding more than 500,000 sq ft to the popular site, and representing an investment of £45m.

Phase one delivered seven new industrial units attracting distribution, technology, and advanced manufacturing businesses.

Jade tenants include Sumitomo Electric Wiring Systems Europe (SEWS-E), innovative modular house builder Corehaus, architectural façade manufacturer ARGLA, RG Distributors Ltd T/A Catering, Earthshot Prize shortlisted sustainable materials company Low Carbon Materials, and solar power innovator Power Roll.

Power Roll operates the first facility in the world to produce low-cost, lightweight, flexible solar film using patented micro-groove technology.

As innovators in the energy industry Power Roll is helping to create a sustainable, solar power source that will help the UK meet its net zero targets carrying on County Durham’s long tradition of energy innovation.

Integra 61

Just off the A1 at Junction 61 (Durham Services) and only four miles from Durham City you can’t really miss the massive £300m Integra 61, which is expected to bring around 4,000 new jobs.

With a whopping 2m sq ft Amazon fulfilment centre as a starter, it has been developed in just a couple of years. Its location and easy access to a huge labour pool makes it ideally suited to manufacturing or logistics businesses.

Springing up around Amazon at Evolution@Integra61 are 23 small, modern flexible units totalling 52,142 sq ft to satisfy strong demand from local and regional occupiers.

In addition work has already started on Connect@Integra – with developers Citrus Durham securing £75M in funding for the 650,000 sq ft speculative build of five units.

The Connect phase includes everything from a hotel to 300 homes, and community facilities such as a doctors’ surgery, nursery, a pub and restaurant and shops.

Milburngate

Meanwhile the impressive Milburngate in Durham City Centre is almost complete. A hugely ambitious mixed-use development Milburngate was tasked with fitting into one of the most spectacular historic city centres in the UK – a task it has proved more than equal to.

The £90m scheme includes 230,00 sq ft of grade A office space, 153 luxury apartments, 60,000 sq ft of retail and leisure space, and  hotel. The development has created 1,000 jobs and supports many more in service industries and supply chain.

North East Technology Park (NETPark)

NETPark is home to 40 science, engineering and technology companies and provides the ideal environment for innovation-based companies of global significance.

Owned by Durham County Council and managed by the council’s business support service, Business Durham, the park is now fully let – but there’s more to do – so it has to be time for further expansion.

A £61m phase three that will double the size of NETPark is due to start to accommodate new companies and the growth of firms already based there.

Work starts later this year and include 232,00 sq ft of laboratory, office, production and storage space with potential to create 1,250 new jobs and support 2,200 more in the supply chain.

Home to many hugely successful firms, such as semiconductor firm Pragmatic which has ambitious growth plans and works in close partnership with New College Durham and the North East Institute of Technology, and radio frequency (RF) communications specialist Filtronic, which designs and manufactures filters and mmWave transceivers.

Also Redditch Medical, working in the field of contamination control and cleanrooms, celebrates its 10th anniversary at NETPark this year and will no doubt be raising a glass to expansion, growth and success.

Steve Brown, managing director, said: “NETPark was the right place at the right time. And, it allowed us to give the right image of a high tech, innovative, professional company that has developed into a global company.

“Our products – manufactured in the North East – are sold into a worldwide network, from Japan to Australia and Costa Rica.”

To find out more about these and other business sites and premises in County Durham visit www.businessdurham.co.uk.