BUSINESS BITES
NEWS
BUSINESS BITES
THORNABY EXPANSION Work is progressing on a new 23,000-sq ft industrial unit at a popular business park.
The structure of a mixeduse, speculatively built Grade A industrial unit is now taking shape at Teesside Estate in Thornaby.
North-East construction company Tri Construction is overseeing the development on behalf of estate owner UK Land Estates, and construction is set to complete next month.
CLEAN COLLEGE The Education Training Collective( Etc.) has been named a Clean Energy Technical Excellence College by the Department for Education.
One of just five Clean Energy TECs announced nationally, it puts the Teesside college group, which incorporates Bede Sixth Form College, Innersummit, NETA Training, Redcar and Cleveland College and Stockton Riverside College, at the forefront of clean energy and low-carbon skills development.
CULTURE BID Middlesbrough will celebrate its creativity and innovation as it launches a bid to become UK City of Culture in 2029.
The town’ s exciting and ambitious plan has been longlisted for the prestigious national title, alongside towns and cities across the country.
Winning has enormous benefits, with previous hosts attracting millions of pounds in additional investment, creating jobs and welcoming thousands of visitors to their local area.
CARBON DEALS Teesside’ s growing role at the heart of the UK’ s clean energy transition has taken another major step forward, with £ 1.5bn of contracts now awarded to UK businesses across two landmark carboncapture projects.
The East Coast Cluster, which brings together NZT Power and the Northern Endurance Partnership, says more than 230 subcontracts have now been let, as construction activity gathers pace across one of the government’ s first carbon capture, usage and storage clusters.
Launch – pictured at the official opening of the new Darlington station is( left to right) HM Lord-Lieutenant of County Durham Mike Butterwick CBE, LNER MD David Horne, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE, Darlington MP Lola McAvoy, Darlington Council leader Steve Harker, Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen and Network Rail Eastern Region MD Ellie Burrows.
Station overhaul and transformation marks completion
The transformation of Darlington Station has been completed – with a new entrance hall and car park, two new station platforms to free up capacity on the rail network and a new walkway through into the historic station.
Dignatories and special guests marked the milestone in a celebration event with a journey to York and back aboard the LNER Azuma train Darlington from the brandnew Platform 5, and an appearance from Darlington-built steam locomotive Tornado on the new Platform 6.
The project, estimated to cost around £ 140m, was delivered by the Tees Valley Combined Authority, Network Rail, LNER, the Department for Transport and Darlington Council, with the combined authority contributing £ 45m.
The new car park includes secure parking for 654 cars, including accessible parking
Darlington hosts first Amazon drone deliveries outside of USA
Amazon has become the first retailer in the UK to launch a drone delivery service – with Darlington chosen as the pilot location for the groundbreaking scheme.
The tech giant has begun delivering packages weighing less than 5lb to customers within a 7.5-mile radius of its Darlington fulfilment centre, with everyday items such as beauty products, batteries and cables among the first products eligible for the service.
Amazon believes there is growing demand for ultra-fast deliveries and bays and electric car charging points.
New short-stay drop-off spaces, cycle parking and walkways have also been created outside the new entrance hall.
Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said:“ Our transformation of Darlington Station is one of the most significant infrastructure projects for our region in a generation.
“ It will deliver improved rail services, provide modern facilities for passengers and ensure the station is fit for the demands of the 21st century.
“ Crucially, this investment will also help in strengthening our connections to London and the rest of the UK, attracting new businesses, creating jobs and opening up new opportunities for local people.
“ The project lays down a huge marker to the rest of the country in showing what we can achieve when we work together in Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”
Delivery – Amazon will trial drone distribution from Darlington.
hopes to gradually expand the operation if the trial proves successful.
David Carbon, vice-president of Amazon Prime Air, said customers increasingly expect goods to arrive faster than ever.
He said:“ The certainty is people have never told us they want their stuff slower.”
146 | Tees Business