Member Article

Aviation Minister launches Newcastle Airport Business Park that could deliver 7,000 jobs

Plans to develop a new business park at Newcastle Airport, that could deliver 7,000 North East jobs over the next 20 years, are in motion.

The Airport’s planning and corporate affairs director, Graeme Mason, said there was potential for further developments if the scheme was successful.

Phase one of the park plans will establish 175,000 sq ft of office accommodation across six buildings, in close proximity to the airport and within walking distance of Callerton Parkway Metro station.

Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill MP joined Newcastle International Airport chief executive David Laws and Leader of Newcastle City Council Nick Forbes to launch the development, which was outlined in the airport’s 2013 masterplan.

Team Valley Trading Estate owners UK Land Estates are partners in the project, which will be marketed by commercial property agents Knight Frank.

Graeme Mason said the development was well placed to take advantage of the recovering economy and hoped it would attract new investors to the region.

He told Bdaily: “This is really going to attract businesses that need quick and efficient access to new international markets, such as the offshore sector, digital and high-tech.

“Not only has it got the air links, but there’s connectivity via excellent road and rail infrastructure nearby.”

Mr Mason allayed concerns that existing commercial property did remain empty in the region - indicating that the Airport and its partners had done extensive research to establish demand and units were “pitched at the right size.”

Map showing the planned area for the Business Park to the south of the Airport.

Dave Laws, chief executive of Newcastle International Airport, said: “The location of the Newcastle International Airport Business Park is ideal for businesses who will benefit from the excellent connectivity through the airport.

“The location is great not only for aviation related companies, but also professional services, technology and IT, telecommunications and oil and gas / offshore businesses, who can make use of the excellent connectivity on offer.

“This is a very important development for us and one which we feel will be very popular. Other successful regional airports have been able to diversify their business and we see this scheme as critical in supporting the growth of the airport.

“We are delighted to work with UK Land Estates and our shareholders on this project and the launch today is an exciting first step.”

Newcastle City Council Leader Nick Forbes cheered the plans and said they pertained to his own ambition of making Newcastle the best place to locate business in the UK.

The Aviation Minister welcomed the development and also said he hoped Newcastle Airport succeeded in its goal to operate transatlantic flights to the US East Coast.

Speaking to Bdaily on a tour of the Airport the MP for Scarborough and Whitby said the Government’s ambition for Newcastle was to grow investment, flights and jobs.

He said: “We’d like to improve surface connectivity and that means investment in the metro and the investment that’s happening on the A1.

“High Speed rail will also bring benefits to the region, as trains will not stop at Leeds, but continue at normal speeds to Newcastle.”

Newcastle International Airport chief executive David Laws (left) with Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill MP (centre) and Newcastle City Council Leader Nick Forbes (right)

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .