Green light for 1m sq ft Northumberland I&L scheme 

The approval, granted by Hartlepool Development Corporation, covers outline planning permission for up to 677,000 sq ft of employment floorspace alongside full planning permission for 14 employment buildings on land at the 150-acre estate. 

Bidfood will use the 86,000 sq ft distribution hub in Chester-le-Street as its regional HQ, providing capacity for future growth and investment in the North East.

A major new freight and aviation-linked development could be on the way south of Newcastle International Airport, following a formal request for a scoping opinion submitted to the council.

The construction firm is working alongside Redcar and Cleveland Council to deliver 14,600 sq ft of retail space split among seven units in the Tees Valley town. 

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). 

The 17-acre site in Birtley, Gateshead, has 204,000 sq ft of existing manufacturing and logistics buildings and the potential to be developed for either commercial or residential uses.

Delivered by Building Design Northern in partnership with contractor Hewitson, steelworks are in place for five units, three of which have reached their full height at the 125,000 sq ft industrial development in Hendon, Sunderland. 

From marinas to innovation districts, Northern leaders pitched £500m investment visions for their regions at this Dragons Den-style event.

This panel session explored how the North’s combination of land, skills, and collaboration gives it a compelling edge in the I&L sector, despite persistent challenges.