Contract for 5,000-job development
A nationally-significant project to deliver more than 5,000 jobs in North East England is moving forward with the appointment of a development partner.
South Tyneside and Sunderland councils have jointly appointed Henry Boot Developments Limited as development partner for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP).
It will be responsible for the physical building of the site, which is proposed for an area close to the A19 and to the north of Nissan’s existing manufacturing plant.
IAMP will be a worldclass environment for high-tech industries, advanced manufacturing businesses, and designed to attract more than 5,000 jobs and bring in more than £300million of private sector investment over the next 10 years.
It is anticipated the IAMP will also help secure more automotive supply chain jobs following Nissan recent announcements on the Qashqai and X-Trail replacement models being manufactured in Sunderland.
The Henry Boot Developments contract – the most significant awarded to date for the site –- was approved at cabinet meetings held by both local authorities following a competitive tender process.
The Government has already pledged £42million through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership towards infrastructure at IAMP including new roads, bridges and environmental enhancements.
The project will also see contributions from the two local authorities and Enterprise Zone income in the form of retained business rates.
Coun Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "We are delighted to have awarded the devel- opment partner contract to Henry Boot Developments, a company with a proven track record of delivering projects of this scale and significance.
"The IAMP is one of the most strategically-important projects in decades for Sunderland, South Tyneside and the entire NorthEast region.
"With Nissan as a magnet there is huge interest in IAMP, so it is critical that we assemble a delivery team with the expertise to deliver this project.
"We know Henry Boot Developments will be a flexible, responsive partner, as this site will be developed to respond to market demand – and there is already a great deal of interest."
Henry Boot Developments will deliver infrastructure works, such as highways and utilities, and floorspace for accommodation on the site, which is the equivalent of more than 100 football pitches. Work could begin next year, subject to further permissions.