FT - Euro Garages Ashwood Business Park, Northumberland - Sept 20

Euro Garages is to invest £4m building a circa 8,000sq ft development on the Ashwood Business Park in South East Northumberland.

The site will include a petrol filling station, convenience store, and drive-thru Starbucks outlet and will create 50 full and part-time jobs, with a further 40 jobs through construction work.

The scheme will provide important amenities and services for existing users on the site as well as local residents and passing trade upon the busy A189.

The Blackburn-based Top 50 Indie has exchanged conditional contracts with Ashwood Business Park owners Advance Northumberland to purchase the two-acre site and has submitted a planning application for the development.

The planned investment from Euro Garages marks another step forward in the development of Ashwood Business Park. In February this year, £2.7 million was secured from Advance Northumberland, Northumberland County Council and the North East LEP for infrastructure improvements to encourage further inward investment and growth projects at the site.

Richard Wearmouth, chair of Advance Northumberland said, “We’re delighted that Euro Garages has committed to building new amenities at Ashwood Business Park – and it’s fantastic to be welcoming a company of their calibre to the site.

“The petrol station and retail offering from Euro Garages will enhance Ashwood Business Park’s infrastructure and further boost its appeal to investors looking for a well-connected location within a vibrant manufacturing cluster and with a highly skilled workforce on the doorstep.

“Ashwood Business Park is a place where businesses can develop and expand, and we have seen from the success of AkzoNobel and Bernicia Homes how companies can thrive at this prime location.”

Neil Findlay, development manager, of Euro Garages said, “We are delighted to exchange contracts with Advance Northumberland on this development site within the Ashwood Business Park. Working in close partnership with Advance Northumberland we firmly believe that our first in class roadside services will be an asset to the park and the wider Ashington area.”

Andrew Moffat, CBE, Chair of the Investment Board at the North East LEP, said: “The arrival of Euro Garages to Ashwood Business Park will further cement this Enterprise Zone as a very attractive prospect for investors. The site is in a prime location and businesses locating there will benefit from tax breaks and a range of interventions – we look forward to this site attracting many more businesses and creating more and better jobs for our residents.”