Member Article

Former Durham cricketer to grow training business in Northumberland

Former Durham and Kent cricketer Ben Harmison is expanding his personal training business, taking up space at Lynefields Park, the site of the former Alcan smelter in Northumberland.

Acquiring a five year lease on a 3,200 sq ft unit, Ben says the location is ‘ideal’ to further develop Harmison Personal Training.

Park owner Harworth Estates, a specialist in the regeneration of industrial land, completed the controlled demolition of eight chimneys at the site in June.

In setting up at Lynefields Park, Ben follows other tenants including precast concrete flooring specialist Lynx Precast, which currently employs 30 people and H-Mix, which recently invested £400,000 in building a new production facility on the 320 acre site.

C&J Marine, which is involved with caravan disposal and storage and construction firm Sisk are also existing occupiers.

And Paul Scott, a former Rio Tinto Alcan employee, who has returned to the site to set up a business recycling wooden pallets, has recently hired his first apprentice.

Ben said: “As well as gym membership we’re also providing boot camps and bespoke training and conditioning courses seven days a week.

“As site owner, Harworth Estates has been great to deal with and now that we’re up and running I’m looking forward to growing the business and creating jobs in a community I’ve always considered home.”

Eddie Peat, Director at Harworth Estates, added: “Demolition of the former chimneys and the subsequent clean-up of the site was an important milestone in the redevelopment of Lynefields Park.

“We’ve continued to work hard to promote the site’s existing units to commercial units via our agents at Cushman & Wakefield and HTA and we plan to share our draft masterplan later this year with the public.

“In the meantime, we wish Ben Harmison and our other existing tenants every success as they grow their businesses and create new employment opportunities for local people.”