The development of a 200-acre site in County Durham has taken a major step forward this week as contractors have been invited to tender for the first phase of infrastructure works.
In April this year developer Citrus Durham Ltd received outline planning permission for Integra 61, a multi-million pound, mixed-use scheme which will include up to 2m sq.ft of employment space.
Proposals for the site, which is located adjacent to junction 61 of the A1(M) at Bowburn, include large industrial and distribution units, a 70-bedroom hotel, a residential care home, restaurants, a GP surgery, roadside retail units and up to 270 new homes.
This week a small number of regional and national contractors have been invited to tender for the infrastructure works including a major new roundabout on the A688, together with internal estate roads, earthworks, services and landscaping. It is anticipated the successful contractor will be appointed early in the New Year.
David Cullingford, development manager at Citrus Durham said: “Integra 61 has the potential to provide the largest scale logistics and manufacturing development the North East has seen in a generation and we are very excited to be making this major step forward.
We intend to be on site with the first phase of infrastructure works in March and once complete we will have fully serviced sites available, meaning that we can deliver properties designed to suit occupier’s specifications as early as Autumn 2017.”
Citrus Durham believe the development could generate 4,000 jobs and add almost £2bn to the region’s economy in its first ten years.
Guy Currey, director at Invest North East England added: “It is fantastic news for the region that Citrus Durham is moving this project forward. Their commitment to developing the scheme is a huge vote of confidence in the North East market.
Integra 61 is one of the key development opportunities to be showcased at Invest North East England’s stand at MIPIM UK in London next week. We are dedicated to attracting and supporting this kind of private sector investment, which will deliver major regeneration, economic growth and new jobs to the region.”
Earlier this year Citrus appointed North East property consultants, Naylors as joint letting agent alongside national agent, Avison Young. Last week an industrial agent’s launch was held in Newcastle to present the latest masterplan for the site, which has already generated significant interest.
Keith Stewart, director at Naylors said: “Since our appointment on the scheme we have received a good level of enquiries and are in active discussions with a number of potential occupiers. The restaurant and retail element is also proving popular and we are already discussing terms with several well-known roadside operators that are keen to be part of this exciting development.”
Robert Rae of Avison Young added: “We are also putting the scheme forward to larger national enquiries for units of up to 1m sq.ft, for which there is a limited number of viable options. Integra 61 has the scale, planning approvals and will shortly have the infrastructure works in place to meet the requirements of large-scale industrial and logistics occupiers.