Sunderland development could create more than 1,300 North East jobs

Property developer Town End Farm Partnership (“TEFP”), has submitted a mixed use planning application for its Wear Point 55 development on land it owns to the north of Nissan.

The hybrid application, including both a detailed and outline proposal, features a major manufacturing and commercial development.

The firm says the 22-hectare site - which lies within the bounds of the planned International Advanced Manufacturing Park - has the potential to deliver more than 92,000 m2 (1 million sq ft) of manufacturing space and almost 9,300 m2 (100,000 sq ft) of commercial space.

The detailed application includes the development of two new factories for two Tier 1 suppliers to Nissan (accounting for 74,000 m2 (800,000 sq ft) of the detailed development) and the outline application covers the remainder of the site which will form a commercial hub, including retail and leisure.

Expressions of Interest in leasehold arrangements in that hub element of the scheme have already been received from national and regional retailers.

If planning is approved, the proposal is estimated to provide around 1,348 jobs in the NE Local Enterprise Partnership area, more than a third of which would be in Sunderland, and include significant inward investment of £70m to the local and regional economies.

TEFP is holding a public exhibition on Thursday, October 20, between 2.30pm and 8.00pm at The Washington Business Centre in Turbine Way.

Visitors will have the opportunity to view, discuss and comment on the proposed plans and members of the project team will also be on hand to answer any questions and talk through the details of the application.

TEFP director Peter Razaq, said: "We are extremely proud of our investment in the North East.

"This application comes at the end of an eight-year period of hard work necessary to deliver this vision. Together with our team of advisers, funder and potential tenants, we believe that our planning application, which brings to life our masterplan vision for the site, will be seen as a positive step and we look forward to working with Sunderland City Council to deliver an exceptional mixed use site, which would be occupied by the end of 2017."

North East England Chamber of Commerce head of polict Jonathan Walker said: "This proposed development is really positive news and a clear indication of the beneficial impact of Nissan’s business on the Wearside and also the regional economy.

"The potential for new jobs is also great for the area and will make a difference to the local workforce in terms of new opportunities and chances to develop their skills."