Durhamgate

Arlington Real Estate has been selected by Homes England as the preferred joint venture partner for West Hartford Business Park, which will generate inward investment and jobs in the region.

The 55-hectare site, which is owned by Homes England, is planned to feature up to a million square feet of much-needed commercial and light industrial premises that will enhance economic activity in this area of the North East of England.

Secured through a Homes England competitive tender process, the joint venture partnership enhances Arlington Real Estate’s active portfolio of significant employment-generating regeneration projects.

Designated as a strategic employment site by Northumberland County Council and The North of Tyne Combined Authority, West Hartford Business Park will create commercial space and industrial units for a wide range of commercial uses.

In close proximity to the Port of Blyth and alongside neighbouring business parks, West Hartford will provide much needed additional capacity for expanding local businesses and those looking to establish a presence in the area to benefit from its skilled workforce, transport connectivity and infrastructure.

An outline planning application is expected to be submitted for the scheme in the summer of this year.

This is the latest significant development that will be delivered by North East based Arlington Real Estate. Most recently it was named as preferred bidder to develop Homes England and Network Rail’s major brownfield regeneration scheme, York Central.

One of the UK’s largest city centre regeneration schemes, York Central will transform more than 45 hectares of underutilised land adjacent to York Railway Station creating up to 2500 homes and more than one million square feet of commercial space, generating up to 6,500 jobs.

Arlington Real Estate is also behind one of the region’s largest regeneration schemes, DurhamGate, where it has transformed the former Black & Decker headquarters, five miles south of Durham City, into an established 100-acre mixed use community attracting investment of more than £100m and sustaining in the region of 1,300 jobs.

In Durham it was behind the creation of Freemans Reach on the city’s riverside, which has become the new home of HM Passport Office and National Savings & Investments, securing more than 1,000 jobs in the city centre.

On the opposite bank of the River Wear, Arlington Real Estate is currently developing Milburngate, a £120m living, working and leisure destination.

Dean Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “We are exceptionally proud to become Homes England’s joint venture partner to deliver this strategically important site in the North East.

“The West Hartford Business Park will become a fundamental part of Northumberland’s growing economy, providing high quality space for a range of businesses that will benefit from operating out of this region. We hope to attract further inward investment as well as safeguard the fantastic businesses that are currently here and allow them to grow.”

Jon Irvine, Director: National Development (Interim), Homes England, said: “We’re pleased to appoint Arlington Real Estate as our Joint Venture Partner for the development of the West Hartford Business Park. This site presents some exciting economic opportunities for Northumberland and with Arlington Real Estate’s track record of delivering high quality schemes that generate employment, we are confident that this site will be a valuable addition to the area’s commercial activities.”

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF ARLINGTON REAL ESTATE

For further information contact Jamie Collis 01325 363436

Editors’ Notes:

Arlington Real Estate is a North East-based property development business that has delivered a number of significant regeneration projects over the last 15 years.

These include the 85-acre DurhamGate development, which has attracted more than £100m of committed investment, as well as Freemans Reach, which incorporated new offices for HM Passport Office and National Savings & Investments securing more than 1,000 jobs in Durham City centre.

Arlington is currently working on the redevelopment of Milburngate, the former HM Passport Office building on Durham City’s riverside, which is being transformed into one of North East England’s premium living, work and leisure destinations.