Arlington chosen for 1m sq ft Cramlington development
Homes England has selected Arlington Real Estate as its joint venture partner to progress West Hartford Business Park, a 136-acre Northumberland site owned by the regeneration body.
The park is earmarked for up to 1m sq ft of commercial and light industrial premises to enhance economic activity in Northumberland.
Secured through a Homes England competitive tender process, the joint venture partnership enhances Arlington Real Estate’s active portfolio of significant employment-generating regeneration projects.
The site is designated as a strategic employment site by Northumberland County Council and The North of Tyne Combined Authority. It offers proximity to the Port of Blyth and neighbouring business parks, for which it is expected to provide grow-on or expansion space.
An outline planning application is expected this summer.
The announcement represents the latest win for North East-based Arlington, after it was selected alongside McLaren for Homes England and Network Rail’s £2.5bn brownfield scheme, York Central.
Arlington was also behind the DurhamGate regeneration scheme, where it has transformed the former Black & Decker headquarters, five miles south of Durham City, into an established 100-acre mixed use community.
The firm also developed Freemans Reach in central Durham, which now houses HM Passport Office. The Milburngate development across the River Wear, although still requiring completion after the main contractor’s administration, has attracted blue-chip names.
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. We hope to attract further inward investment as well as safeguard the fantastic businesses that are currently here and allow them to grow.”
Jon Irvine, interim director of national development at Homes England, said: “We’re pleased to appoint Arlington Real Estate as our joint venture partner for the development of the West Hartford Business Park.
“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.”
