Outline plans for a major Northumberland scheme, which aims to bring forward more than one million sq ft of industrial, manufacturing and logistics space, look set to be approved next week.
West Hartford Park is located just minutes from the deep-sea Port of Blyth, and is the largest remaining strategic employment site in Northumberland, spanning 126 acres.
The proposed development seeks to support the expansion of the port and forms a key part of the Energy Central Partnership.
Outline planning permission is being sought for the development of the land into a variety of uses including employment, research, battery storage and training centre use, with a petrol station, ancillary retail, drive thru units, a gym and ground mounted solar PV.
A planning report, which will go before Northumberland County Council's Strategic Planning Committee on Tuesday 5 May, said the scale and form of development "reflect the site’s allocation as a Prestige Employment Area and are considered necessary to attract major occupiers and support regional economic growth".
It added: "The layout has also been designed to ensure efficient operation, including HGV access, servicing and parking, whilst responding to the site’s context through inward-facing building orientation and the provision of a central landscaped core to reduce visual impact."
The buildings will be "modern, efficient and flexible, with the land including "integrated infrastructure supporting resilience, digital connectivity and low-carbon technologies and sustainable design".
If approved, work on site will be done in phases. The first of which will be known as phase 1a. Subject to demand, the applicant expects the entire scheme to take upwards of eight years to complete.
During the operation phase, it is anticipated that more than 2,000 jobs would be created, generating circa £67m per annum in employee salaries - some of which will be spent within the local economy.
The scheme will go before committee with the recommendation for approval.
Richard Scott Director at HTA Real Estate said " We are looking forward to working on this scheme which has the potential to be a major employer in Northumberland".
