Plans for second base on manufacturing park land

Plans to build a second manufacturing base on the border between Sunderland and South Tyneside which promises to create 7,000 new jobs have been sent in to planners.

The application has been submitted for a 131,891 sq ft building – equivalent to almost two football pitches – on the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP), on land north of Nissan.

The development will be the second building on the park, a game-changing scheme being delivered in partnership by Sunderland City Council, South Tyneside Council and Henry Boot Developments, that is expected to create more than 7,000 jobs.

The application was submitted by Howard Russell Construction, the company currently on-site building car part firm SNOP’s plant. It is not yet known who will occupy the site but is another significant step forward for the £400 million manufacturing park, which was given the green light after the two local authorities agreed a city deal with the Government in 2015.

The proposed building will be constructed in two phases.

The building will include a factory as well as a 10,989 sq ft office space, which will stand on ‘plot 4’ of the park, which covers 15.57 acres.

It is classified as a ‘General Industrial’ building in the planning application, which will be considered by Sunderland City Council.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “IAMP will capitalise on the North East’s strengths in advanced manufacturing, and cultivate a diverse base of businesses, spanning aerospace, rail, automation and offshore among others.

“The unique proposition that IAMP offers gives us a high level of confidence in the contribution it can make to the North East economy and to UK manufacturing at large.”