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PRESS RELEASE - Go-ahead for Richardson Barberry’s £100 million warehouse development

POSTED 24 November 2022

Developer Richardson Barberry today announced it has secured detailed planning consent for a £100 million development of eight warehouse units at a major North East business park.

Durham County Council has approved the company’s plans for the first phase development of 830,500 sq ft of warehouse/logistics space on 42-acres of the 116-acre site at Forrest Park. Earthworks/construction is expected to begin on site in 2023.

Forrest Park (Newton Aycliffe) Limited, a joint venture by Durham County Council and local landowners the Forrest family, has signed a development agreement with Richardson Barberry. The ambition is that, over the next 10 years, the park will provide 1.8 million sq ft of industrial space and create more than 3,000 jobs, boosting County Durham’s economy by almost half a billion pounds.

Overall, the development will extend Aycliffe Business Park to become the largest in the North East and will accommodate a range of business, industrial, warehouse and trade units, roadside restaurant and retail space next to the A1(M).

Jonathan Robinson, Barberry Industrial development director, said: “Our Phase 1 Reserved Matters planning consent marks a major step forward for what is a hugely important development for the region. We are excited at the prospect of starting work soon to deliver one of the North East’s premier business parks, which will stimulate economic growth and create thousands of new jobs. We are speaking with several occupiers who are interested in the scheme and hope to announce some more good news during 2023.”

He added: “Forrest Park is a highly attractive location for a range of major businesses. £13 million of infrastructure has been installed on the site, including 24 MVA substation and utility connections, and a new signalised junction providing access to and from the rest of Aycliffe Business Park and the A1(M). The first eight units will be available in a wide range of sizes, from around 37,000 sq ft to 260,000 sq ft. We’ve already had interest from local, regional, national and international occupiers in this prominent, motorway-connected, serviced and consented site. It is oven-ready for development and has access to an excellent, skilled labour demographic.”

Mark Watkins, representing the Richardson family, said: “Forrest Park is part of the council’s long-term ambitions to create a thriving environment for businesses and investors to develop and grow while creating and safeguarding more and better jobs. This will also be crucial to the county’s economic recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. It is great to be on the brink of finally getting started on this exciting development.”

A roadside retail development by Euro Garages, including a petrol filling station, a convenience store and a KFC drive-thru restaurant, has already been built on the first plot at the site.

About Barberry Group Ltd:

Barberry is a privately-owned development and investment company established in 1983 and based in the West Midlands. The company is active in all sectors of the property market and has a reputation for creating investments for institutional markets. Barberry has also completed several partnership and joint venture developments. Further information is available at www.barberry.co.uk.

About Richardson:

Richardson is a leader in real estate and growth capital with a business portfolio that is embedded across the world. The multi-generational independent family trading and investment business began over 70 years ago in the West Midlands. Current growth capital investments include an award-winning Swiss technology company, a UK financial services business, a US based medical real estate company and the largest avocado grower in New Zealand. Real estate holdings are significant in scale and content, encompassing office, residential, distribution centres, leisure and infrastructure properties, nationally and internationally. The family continue to actively seek opportunities to back great management teams and businesses.

Media:

For more information please call Paul Skipp of Monterey Media on 07957 457911 or email paul@montereypr.com.