Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 7
/NEWS
Aycliffe Councillor John Clare welcomes
£10m cash boost for Aycliffe Business Park
AYCLIFFE
IS THE PLACE
TO BE
Business leaders and politicians
have welcomed the fantastic news
that Durham County Council was
successful in a bid for Government
cash, which included £10m to
develop Merchant 2.
“As a company based on the park, it is
fantastic news to hear of the opportunity
for new businesses and new jobs.
As detailed on page 6, DCC has secured
a multi-million pound deal from the Single
Local Growth Fund to make provisions for
a potential 48-hectare (480,000 square
metre) manufacturing hub to complement
Hitachi’s £82m train-building factory on
Aycliffe Business Park, which is scheduled
to be completed late summer 2015.
“As a business park community we
made the audacious statement that our
aim was to overtake Team Valley as the
largest business park in the North East;
this news takes us closer to seeing that
vision fulfilled and establishing Aycliffe
Business Park as the first choice location
for business in the North-East.
”
“The impact on the local area, particularly
Newton Aycliffe town and the community,
should be significant and a very welcome
boost to both the economy and morale.
The news has been welcomed by
Cllr Neil Foster, Durham County
businesspeople and politicians alike, with
Council’s cabinet member for economic
Aycliffe’s aspirations of becoming the
regeneration, said: “The funding
biggest business park in the North-East
announcements are fantastic news for
starting to become
the residents and
"The impact on the local area, businesses of
realistic.
particularly Newton Aycliffe Country Durham
John Clare, Durham
which will make
County Councillor for
town and the community,
a hugely positive
Aycliffe and also a
should be significant and a difference to job
Councillor for Great
very welcome boost to both prospects and the
Aycliffe Town Council
overall economy.
as well as a published
the economy and morale.
historian, told Aycliffe
Today: “When the County Durham Plan
was first announced, it contained no
provision for extra growth in the Aycliffe
economy, and I can remember that we
campaigned very hard to have extra
business space added into the Plan.
“This development gives us cause to hope
that our aspirations for growth on the
Aycliffe Business Park will now come to
fruition.
”
“I would like to thank the LEP as well as
,
the DCC officers who have worked so
hard to secure the funding.
”
Kerina Clark, Managing Director of the
Xcel Centre and Chair of the Aycliffe
Business Park Community, said: “This is
yet another affirmation of the confidence
that there is in Aycliffe Business Park as a
prime location for growing businesses.
“Hitachi’s base in
Newton Aycliffe has presented massive
opportunities for local businesses to be
part of the supply chain for the new trains
meaning more jobs for local people.
“The proposed Merchant Park 2
development will allow even more
companies and residents to access better
opportunities for years to come.
“When the County Durham Plan was first
announced, it contained no prov