£70m business park gets green light

The 55 acre development for the Turbine Business Park is strategically located between Sunderland and Washington, on land fronting the A1231 adjacent to the junction with the A19, and will incorporate a prestigious 715,000sq ft business park with office space, light industrial units, a hotel and car showroom.

Barmston is the joint venture partnership between Wilton Developments and Clugston Developments.
Jason Stowe, director of Wilton Developments, said: “We’ve worked closely with Sunderland City Council to create a master plan for the site that we hope will foster in the region of 4,000 new jobs.

“The outline planning permission includes 715,000sq ft of commercial space incorporating offices, light industrial, warehouses, hybrid units, motor retail, hotel, leisure and ancillary retail uses. We have already received a significant amount of serious interest from occupiers and this is prior to any marketing of the scheme.”

As part of the development, there will also be highway improvements to the A19/A1231 junction which will benefit the wider regeneration of Sunderland and the surrounding area and improve transport links into the city.

Bob Culliford, Managing Director of Clugston Developments Ltd, added: “Our intention is to deliver a vibrant mixed use scheme that will appeal to those looking for a foothold in the north east as well as meeting local occupier needs.
“We are working closely with Sunderland City Council to progress the scheme and will be aiming to start on site with infrastructure works early next year. The appointment of two property agents at such an early stage in the scheme will ensure that we effectively market the scheme to the business and leisure world nationally and internationally.”

Barmston Developments has just appointed Lambert Smith Hampton’s Newcastle office to market the office and industrial space and King Sturge to manage the leisure and retail space.

David Nicholson, head of Lambert Smith Hampton’s Newcastle office, commented: “This is one of the most exciting schemes coming forward in the North East at the moment.

“The area has been starved of new strategic employment generating opportunities coming onto the market, particularly in the industrial sector, and a development of this scale will have a major impact on Sunderland’s economy.
“This is the most prominently located development site in the Region and will attract top quality office, industrial, warehouse and leisure uses. The excellent business facilities proposed for the site will compliment the success stories of Doxford International and Rainton Bridge, helping to promote Sunderland as a top class business destination.”

Nick Ferris, partner at King Sturge commented: “Considering the strategic nature of the site, both in terms of its highway network and the significant number of corporate office occupiers nearby, this is a fantastic opportunity for hotel, pub and other retail and leisure operators to gain representation at Turbine Business Park.”

Mr Ferris added: “The leisure and ancillary retail element of the scheme will be an important facility not just for those occupies who will be locating onto Turbine Business Park, but the local catchment and passing traffic.”

Tim Cross, head of commercial property at Leeds-based law firm Lupton Fawcett, who advised Barmston Developments on its acquisition of the 55 acre site, said: “We are delighted that the development is progressing smoothly. There was tremendous co-operation from all parties involved, which ensured that quite a complex property deal was completed in a short time scale.”

Work is expected to start on site in January 2008 with units ready for occupation from November 2008.