Member Article

Gateshead contractor appointed for £7 million development project

Durham-based property developers, Ravensworth Property Developments, have appointed Gateshead contractors, Robertson Construction, as the main contractor to begin a £7 million development project at Portobello Trade Park.

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership agreed to help fund the new build project by providing a £982k loan from the North East Investment Fund.

Ravensworth has also received £2.75 million from the European Regional Development Fund.

Gateshead-based Robertson Construction won the contract to build the trade park following a highly competitive tender process in which fifteen construction companies submitted bids.

The development will be the first new speculative commercial development in Gateshead since pre-recession times, marking an important turning point in the changing fortunes of the region’s property market.

Portobello Trade Park will be located in a highly-visible and accessible position on a 6.5 acre site adjacent to the A1(M) at Birtley.

The development will provide 15 high quality light industrial units specifically for SME’s, ranging in size from 195 sq m (2,100 sq ft) to 2,137 sq m (23,000 sq ft).

Ravensworth were given the go-ahead to develop the trade park by Gateshead Council in July having designed the scheme to respond to the lack of high quality stock available for new and expanding SME’s.

Moreover, the company have appointed a number of local firms to assist in delivering the scheme including; In Architecture, Artis Consulting and joint letting agents Naylors Chartered Surveyors and HTA Real Estate.

The steelwork is due to commence on site in October with units ready for occupation in June next year.

Development manager at Ravensworth, Geoff Clark, said: “Portobello Trade Park will provide long-awaited new industrial space for SME’s in an area that has a significant shortage of premises of this kind.

“Securing funding for this development is a vote of confidence in the North East industrial market which will hopefully spearhead further speculative development in the region.”

Robertson’s managing director, Andy McLeod, said: “Winning this contract is great news for Robertson Construction and we are particularly excited to be working with Ravensworth Property Developments on such a significant project.

“Bulk earthworks have already commenced and the first foundations will soon follow, we anticipate that this project will support in excess of 200 jobs during the construction phase.”

“Robertson has a strong track record in delivering quality projects on brownfield sites and we are looking forward to working with them and the rest of the professional team.”