Multi-million-pound Northumberland town centre retail development adds Greggs

Greggs are gearing up to open their new and improved larger shop on Bedlington Front Street.

Advance Northumberland started work on the regeneration of the Market Place, which included a new terrace of shop units and apartments above. The former retail units fronting the Market Place were demolished to make way for four new modern retail units, Greggs was the first retailer to sign up to the new retail terrace.

Greggs will open their new unit on Saturday 23 September, featuring a large seating area and a fresh look to its popular Town Centre shop. The upper floor of the retail units has been designed to provide six new apartments to rent in a mixture of 1 & 2 bedrooms and will be available for rental from Advance Northumberland Homes.

This second phase, which includes three more retail units and the six apartments, will aim to start in the Autumn. This significant project to revitalise Bedlington Town Centre received £2m from the government’s Getting Building Fund, which is managed in the region by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The Getting Building Fund was established early in the Covid-19 pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the pandemic. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership is managing £47m awarded through the Getting Building Fund to support capital investment across the North East.

Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, commented: “With many of the projects supported by the Getting Building Fund reaching completion in the North East LEP area, we’re seeing the positive impact these targeted infrastructure projects are having on job creation and the economy.

“This next phase in the regeneration of Bedlington Town Centre will bring more business investment, create jobs for local people, and improve access to services, providing a boost to the local economy.

“The Getting Building Fund has been successful in enabling important infrastructure projects across the region that may have suffered delays because of the coronavirus pandemic to be realised.”

Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, cabinet member for Supporting Business and Opportunities at Northumberland County Council, added: “We’re pleased to see this major retailer opening its doors in Bedlington Town Centre. With new housing being created and retailers opening up, this is welcome progress as work continues to breathe new life into the heart of the town.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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