Go-ahead for £340m Integra 61 phase two
Citrus Durham can now proceed with plans for a 3m sq ft extension to the west of its mixed-use development at J61 of the A1(M).
Approved by Durham County Council on 1 April, it is thought the development will support around 3,000 jobs once operational, dependent on occupiers.
The scheme has been supported by Lichfields, AJA Architects, and ONE-Environments. Outline planning allows for a range of units of varying sizes, with Citrus now ready to determine the exact design and scale of proposed developments.
Dependent on the speed of uptake and demand, phase two will also require the delivery of the Bowburn Development Route relief road from the site to the A177, in conjunction with the council.
Primary access will, for now, be via two crossings of the disused Leamside Line, a 21‑mile former railway corridor between Pelaw in Gateshead and Tursdale in County Durham.
The prospect of reopening the line has become more tangible in recent months, with the Northern Powerhouse Rail announcement in January confirming that development work will move forward. AECOM is currently undertaking a feasibility study.
Currently, the £400m first phase of Integra 61 comprises 3m sq ft of developable space and is 90% complete, while this second phase will accommodate a further 3m sq ft of employment space.
Notably, the site is home to Amazon’s 2m sq ft fulfilment centre, along with the recently delivered 640,000 sq ft ‘Connect at Integra 61’ logistics scheme delivered by GMI, with all five speculative units either let or under offer.
Beyond logistics, Integra 61’s roadside portfolio continues to grow, featuring established brands such as Costa and Greggs.
A £4m ‘EG On The Move’ petrol station, incorporating a convenience store and a separate Starbucks drive-thru, has also been secured.
Additionally, Tesla has completed the installation of 19 Superchargers on site, now fully operational, and construction is progressing on Marton Care’s new 73-bed care home.
The wider mixed-use scheme also includes around 260 new homes developed by Persimmon and Bellway and a 73-bed care home being constructed by Marton Care.
James Taylor, regional director at Citrus, said: “We are extremely pleased to have secured outline planning consent, which is a significant milestone and the culmination of a long-held vision to expand Integra 61 and build on our successes across two phases, together once complete creating one of the region’s largest employment destinations.
“We’d like to thank the many stakeholders that continue to support us on this journey and we look forward to delivering this exciting phase with our partners.”
