Work begins on second phase of County Durham employment site with Getting Building Fund support

Development company Project Genesis has begun a second phase of works at Hownsgill Industrial Park in Consett, County Durham, that will see the creation of four new workshop units at Bessemer Court.

The latest development is funded through the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) from the government’s Getting Building Fund. £448,000 was awarded in 2020 to enable essential infrastructure and remediable works for five industrial workspaces. The first of which is let, and the next phase of four units is now being built.

When construction of the new industrial units is complete in June 2024, they will create an additional 6,500 square foot of employment space, and create around 20 new jobs.

The ongoing developments at Bessemer Court is being delivered by The Genesis Project, established by Derwentside District Council and Dysart Developments Ltd to regenerate the former Consett Steelworks site.

Mike Clark, Director of Project Genesis Ltd (PGL) – the development company managing the regeneration on behalf of The Genesis Trust – said: “Since The Genesis Project was established in 1994, more than £250m has been invested in Consett through the development of the Consett Steelworks site.

“This next phase of development, with the support of the Getting Building Fund, will help meet the growing demand for high spec industrial units in County Durham; providing businesses with room to grow and the ability to create new jobs for people living in the local area.”

The Getting Building Fund was established early in the coronavirus pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. The North East LEP 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, said: “Bessemer Court is a great example of a project in the North East that has flourished thanks to capital investment from the Getting Building Fund.

“We’ve chosen to inject funding into the site so more industrial workspace units can be created; supporting the growing business base in the area and creating new jobs.”

Hownsgill Industrial Park has been identified as a strategic employment site and key to the continued economic growth of Consett and County Durham. All of units constructed on the industrial park to date are fully occupied by sustainable local companies, and there has already been interest from local manufacturing companies in the new units.

Mike continued: “2024 marks 30 years since for formation of The Genesis Project. We hope the completion of the latest phase at Bessemer Court will pave the way for further works, creating more manufacturing units for local employers.”

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