Houghton news
Plans drawn for new Wear Country Park
Every little helps ... Tesco comes to Houghton
Tesco has been unveiled as the anchor tenant on the new retail development set to be built on the former Houghton Colliery site .
The UK ’ s biggest supermarket group will form a key part of the £ 15m scheme that has been in progress since 2019 when Sunderland City Council ’ s cabinet agreed to sell the former colliery , which had been empty for 40 years , to Hellens Group and Fintry Estates .
The Tesco supermarket , which is expected to create around 80 jobs , will cover a footprint of 4,200 sq m .
Customers will be able to make use of electric vehicle charging points and recycling facilities in a 330-space car park . Tesco will also provide a petrol filling station on the site .
In addition to Tesco , discount brand , Home Bargains , will also open a 1,900 sq m
Gin o ’ clock
Only the be-gin-ning - WL ’ s founder , Scott Wilson-Laing
South Hetton-based WL Distillery has opened an outlet in the STACK Newcastle .
The distillery , which has made a real impact despite only launching last year , will serve drinks at unit 20 of the landmark Tyneside venue .
It will not only stock its own range of award-winning gins , but also plans to be a hub for other local up and coming spirits brands from across the region .
Alongside established brands , the site will aim to showcase and work with upand-coming brands and producers and act as a platform to show the very best of what is available .
store on the site . In total , the two sites are expected to create around 100 new jobs .
The planning documents previously submitted to the council have been updated , removing the provision of a fast-food outlet on the site which was included in earlier plans .
Gavin Cordwell-Smith , chief executive of Hellens Group ( above , left , with councillor Kevin Johnston ), said : “ The aim of our Houghton Colliery development is to contribute positively to the town and its economy , creating an attractive retail destination and jobs for local people in the process .
“ As a Sunderland-based company , we are delighted to be able to announce our partnership with both Tesco and Home Bargains in delivering this project .”
Clixifix ® expands
One of the UK ’ s fastest-growing ConTech and PropTech businesses is looking to continue growing post-pandemic , after creating 10 new jobs at its head office in Houghton ’ s Evolve Business Centre .
Software as a Service provider clixifix ® played a key role in helping the UK housing industry deliver better , fairer housing during the pandemic thanks to its pioneering defect and repair resolution software .
The web-based platform provides developers and their customers with an easy to use , cloud-based platform , which tracks the progress of repairs and speeds up the reporting process , leading to significantly lower costs and higher customer satisfaction .
Plans are being finalised for a new country park costing more than half-a-million pounds at Elemore , near Easington Lane .
Sunderland City Council wants to transform the 60-hectare former golf course in the Hetton ward and has approved £ 500,000 of capital funding , in addition to £ 100,000 allocated by the Coalfield Area Committee and £ 50,000 to develop the adjacent Stephenson trail .
Plans for the site include a garden centre and café , a heritage , interpretation and visitor centre , improvements to the Stephenson Trail , an ecozone aimed at protecting and enhancing existing habitats , country walks with seating , camping / glamping facilities and a natural play playground .
Ultrafast broadband roll-out
Houghtonbased technology company , Rymote , is looking forward to delivering reliable , ultrafast fibre board to rural communities across County Durham starting from this autumn .
The company is preparing to install connections in Chester Moor and Walldrige and also has Fishburn in its sights .
Rymote ’ s business development manager Lucinda Winstanley ( pictured ) said : “ There ’ s a great opportunity right now for businesses and homes to get these ultrafast connections installed for free thanks to the government-backed Rural Connectivity Scheme .
“ We ’ ll be installing all across the county in the months ahead but we want to get the message out that the funding is due to end next year .”
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