Green light recommended for 1m sq ft Northumberland scheme
Arlington and Homes England’s £300m, 126-acre West Hartford Park is set for approval next week, following the submission of plans in December.
The business park will deliver manufacturing and logistics space on the edge of Cramlington, expanding the deep-sea port of Blyth, and includes plans 1m sq ft of industrial space with units ranging from 175,000 sq ft to 530,000 sq ft, alongside office space, retail, education, a petrol station, and R&D facilities.
The project team includes architect FaulknerBrowns, planning agent DPP, landscape designer Colour, and surveyor WSP.
Located next to an established cluster of industrial, logistics, and innovation businesses, Arlington and Homes England are aiming to set a new regional benchmark for environment-led employment development, with more than 35% of the site dedicated to green space.
The development would also form a key part of the Energy Central Partnership, which positions South East Northumberland as a national hub for offshore and renewable energy, clean technology, and advanced manufacturing, while also supporting the North East’s AI Growth Zones.
If approved, the site will be delivered in phases with Phase 1a located directly to the north of West Hartford Fire Station. Subsequent phases would be built out in a westerly direction, with completion expected to take around eight years, subject to occupier demand.
In terms of access, the road that serves the fire station can be used for Phases 1a and 1b, while a new spine road would be created for the future phases of development – Phases 2a, 2b, and 3a.
Units will have significant power capacity and connectivity, and will be available on both freehold or leasehold terms, and can be tailored to occupier needs.
Homes England and Arlington formed a joint venture to work on this project back in February 2024, and since then they have also engaged with the North East Combined Authority, which has made the development part of its economic development strategy with the aim of attracting both jobs and investment into the area.
