Washington news
£ 60M BOOST
£ 9.1m makeover to aid Sunderland Council ’ s carbon-neutral goal
Washington business park moves step closer to reality
Ambitious plans to create a giant
business park in Washington which would create around 1,600 new jobs have moved a step closer with the submission of detailed planning applications .
Sunderland Council has received the proposals from developers Legal & General who are investing £ 60m in the Hillthorn Park Business Park .
And should the plans get the green light from the local authority , work will begin this year on the 25-hectare site which will eventually deliver 600,000 sq ft of floor space for industrial , storage and distribution businesses .
If permission is granted this summer , work is expected to start in September this year with development predicted to move
at a rapid pace , with the new Hillthorn Park expected to be fully built out by 2023 .
Paul Edwards , director of asset management at LGIM Real Assets , said : “ We are pleased to be able to submit a planning application for Hillthorn Park , which is a significant site that will unlock a range of employment opportunities for local people as businesses are attracted to locate there .
“ Hillthorn Park is one of two significant job-creating commercial developments we are backing in Sunderland , a city that has impressed us with its vision and intent .
“ We ’ ve invested some £ 160m in all , because we absolutely back the council ’ s plans to bolster its economy by creating commercial spaces that will attract businesses and with them support the creation of new jobs for local people .”
A redevelopment project at Parsons Vehicle Workshop and Depot in Washington will help Sunderland City Council ’ s goal of achieving carbon-neutral status for Sunderland by 2040 .
The existing workshop will be demolished and replaced with a new council depot building which will house workshop spaces and office accommodation in a project costing just over £ 9m .
A security gatehouse will service the site entrance , which leads to fleet , staff , and visitor parking facilities , a fuel station , and a large barn that can store up to 7,500 tonnes of gritting salt .
Washington firm invests £ 2m and creates 100 jobs in PPE production
Land clearance helps IAMP take next step forward
Ground has been cleared at Washington to advance the next stage of the International Advanced Manufacturing Park ( IAMP ). A row of empty properties is being demolished and removed , allowing future phases of the 150-hectare manufacturing park – which spans land in Sunderland and South Tyneside – to progress .
The removal of six vacant properties that stand in an isolated area to the south of the site is an important step in unlocking a large section of IAMP land , that will clear the way for more large manufacturing facilities to be constructed .
Manufacturer opens door to growth with small loan backing
A Washington manufacturing firm is making plans to expand under new ownership after securing a £ 100,000 investment from the North East Small Loan Fund
Armarium Crown acquired familyowned Crown Doors & Shutters after founder Mike Marsh retired , with Mike ’ s sons Andrew and Graeme , who have both worked for the business since it was set up in 2007 , promoted to managing director and contracts director as part of the company ’ s evolution .
The capital will be used to support increases in marketing activity , production capacity and recruitment , with up to four new jobs expected to be created .
Washington-based PFF Group has created 100 jobs and invested more than £ 2m in custom-built machines to manufacture Personal Protective Equipment ( PPE ) for frontline NHS staff and social care workers .
The investment follows PFF ’ s appointment by the Department for Health and Social Care ( DHSC ) to manufacture 360 million disposable polythene aprons to meet the increased demand for PPE .
PFF began manufacturing aprons using existing machinery purchased from international suppliers but has now invested in faster machines manufactured in the UK .
Keighley-headquartered PFF collaborated with British machine manufacturer Hanbury-Autogil to design and commission bespoke specialist equipment .
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