Major expansion plans approved for IAMP business park on Sunderland-South Tyneside border

An aerial view of how the site could look.

In June, property developer HBD won planning permission for the second phase of development at the site which could deliver a single manufacturing facility of up to one million sq ft.

The space is available immediately on a design and build basis and includes permission for a range of industrial buildings.

This includes light industrial, general industrial storage and distribution uses alongside office and research floor space.

The IAMP project, near Nissan, is a joint venture between Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council with HBD appointed as development partner.

As one of the largest live schemes in the country, it is expected to create more than 7,000 new jobs over the next 10 to 15 years.

More than a third of the available space within IAMP One has already been built out with French automotive supplier SNOP moving into a purpose built facility last year, along with South Tyneside firm Faltec, which relocated to a new building at the site.

The site also houses the Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Advanced Manufacturing which was completed in March this year, before being transformed temporarily into an NHS Nightingale Hospital.

Director and Head of Region at HBD, Tom Wheldon, said the new planning permission and extra land at IAMP would “provide occupiers with more flexibility for bespoke facilities.”

“Having a one million sq ft ‘spade ready’ site with infrastructure already in place – including over 45MVA power – differentiates the IAMP and illustrates why the scheme was designated nationally and internationally significant,” he said.

“We know that innovation isn’t in short supply – the industry has huge potential for growth and IAMP exists to support that, providing the facilities and ecosystem to put that innovation into practice and accelerate growth strategies.

“The North East benefits from an excellent skills base, which hasn’t gone unnoticed and is evident in the enquiries we’re receiving from both UK and international businesses.”

The planning decision has also been welcomed by political leaders in the region.

Leader of South Tyneside Council, Coun Iain Malcolm, described the move as “another significant milestone in bringing forward the IAMP site.”

“IAMP is generating interest from a number of manufacturing sectors and this additional land offers further scope to companies looking at the park as a potential investment location,” he said.

“We, alongside our partners at Sunderland City Council, continue to maximise the economic opportunities to bring much needed investment and jobs to the region through IAMP.”

Sunderland City Council leader, Coun Graeme Miller, added: “IAMP is a location with vast potential, that has so much to offer to engineering and advanced manufacturing businesses.

“We’re delighted that this planning permission will pave the way for further expansion of the site – something we are sure the market will respond to.”

The IAMP has been designated a ‘nationally significant infrastructure project’ by the UK Government, which has pledged £42 million through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership towards infrastructure including new roads, bridges and environmental enhancements to support the development.

Plans for the one million sq ft expansion were approved by Sunderland City Council under emergency delegated powers introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic.

A decision report states the proposal would provide “further flexible and comprehensive development of the IAMP site.”

It goes on to say: “The proposed outline application is considered to be acceptable from a highways, transport, ecology, flood risk / drainage, landscape, visual, heritage, health, amenity, ground conditions, noise, air quality and waste perspective and there are no significant adverse implications that have been concluded in the Environmental Impact Assessment.

“The key factor in the determination of this application is the proposed development will have most substantial economic and employment benefits.”

For more information on IAMP, visit: http://iampnortheast.co.uk

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