Partner Article

£120m business park gets go-ahead

Work can now begin on a £120m business park on Wearside after the council came up with cash to improve the nearby A19. The Rainton Bridge Business Park near Sunderland is expected to create between 4,000 and 6,000 jobs over the next seven years.

However, it was put on hold when the Highways Agency requested information on its impact on local trunk roads. Sunderland Council has now pledged £400,000 towards improving the A19, giving a green light for the park. The total cost of the improvements to the A19 is estimated at £1.5m, and the rest of the cash will come from English Partnerships, business park specialists Akeler, and Northern Rock. In July 2005 the Newcastle-based bank announced plans to move over 1,000 staff and create up to 2,500 new jobs at a purpose-built complex at the park.

Councillor Bob Symonds, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Rainton Bridge reinforces Sunderland’s status as a leading international business centre. The complex is developing well, with phase one already completed, marking another major milestone for the partnership behind this joint venture and for the city as a whole.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .