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New shopping development set for early opening

A new shopping development on Teesside is expected to open early next year.

Commercial property experts believe new shops being developed to replace those destroyed by a fire in Eaglescliffe will be ready to open in spring 2014.

Chartered surveyors Sanderson Weatherall, the company working to position new tenants in the shops on Orchard Parade, Durham Lane, have been giving local community leaders an insight into developments on the site.

Randall Orchard Construction Ltd has begun in work building the properties for Mowden Park Estate Company.

A total of nine new units are being developed, to operate alongside Sainsbury’s, with strong interest from local, regional and national companies.

Andrew Wilkinson, a partner at the Tees Valley office of Sanderson Weatherall, said: “This is a much-missed shopping area, so the response we have had from the local community has been very positive, and discussions are ongoing with a number of retailers showing very strong interest in the site.

“Construction is due to be completed in spring 2014, so we hope that the first shops may open around that time.”

Edward Yuill, managing director at Mowden Park, is the grandson of Cecil M Yuill, who built the original site in the 1960s.

He said: “It is fantastic to get started on reviving such a popular site after the devastation caused to the community by the fire.

“We are looking forward to creating something which will provide a valuable contribution to life in the area for many years to come.”

James Wharton, MP for Stockton South, added: “It is welcome news that work has now begun on bringing this important site back into commercial use for our community.

“It seems like a long time ago that the arson attack happened but we are making progress and I would like to thank the owners for working with me and local councillors to ensure things are done properly.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .