Ashington town centre project worth millions gains flagship scheme planning permission

The multi-million-pound scheme to transform Ashington town centre has taken another step forward with Advance Northumberland.

The town has now been granted planning permission for its flagship scheme on Portland Park.

The planning consent includes a multi-screen cinema, restaurants and car parking, with outline planning permission also granted for up to 12,000 sq ft of additional retail space and more parking.

A further phase of the Portland Park scheme comprising 20,000 sq ft of new retail space and car parking is anticipated to be submitted in the next few months.

In 2019, Advance Northumberland exchanged contracts with Reel Cinema to operate the leisure facility and secured a land sale to a national retailer for the development of 20,000 sq ft retail unit on the site.

Combined these private investments provide the nucleus and funding package that includes a £4.6m loan from Northumberland County Council along with a £3m grant to support the scheme.

Work could start as early as spring 2020, subject to all planning and contractual conditions being satisfied.

Council leader Peter Jackson said: “This ambitious but deliverable scheme is the culmination of carefully planned public and private investment into Ashington town centre, which has always been one of our priorities.

“It’s fantastic news that working on behalf of the County Council, Advance Northumberland has been able not only to secure high quality private investment into Ashington but also ensure we have an attractive new, high-quality mixed-use development on this important site.”