JV partner selected for business site

NORTH East developer Arlington Real Estate has been selected as the preferred joint venture partner to develop a Northumberland business park.

The Durham-based company is set to transform a 55-hectare site in Cramlington owned by Homes England into West Hartford Business Park, which will have up to one million square feet of commercial and light industrial space once complete.

West Hartford Business Park has been designated as a strategic employment site by Northumberland County Council and The North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA), and is set to become a focal site for local businesses looking for additional capacity, as well as those looking to establish a presence in the area.

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

Arlington Real Estate was behind the creation of Freemans Reach, the new home of HM Passport Office and National Savings & Investments in Durham city centre, and is also still working on the £120m office, leisure and housing development Milburngate.

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.”

Jon Irvine, director national development (interim), Homes England, said: “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.”