Members of the newly formed North Yorkshire Council toured a construction site in Pickering as work to create a major new industrial park gathers pace.
York-based Lindum Group hosted the visit to update councillors, officers and the York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (Y&NY LEP) on progress at Pickering Park.
It comes two weeks after planning permission was granted for nine more industrial units at the site, which will form phase three of the Thornton Road Business Park. The council will buy and let the units once they are completed.
Watch our site update video here:
Site preparations and infrastructure work began in September 2022, after Lindum was awarded £880,000 from the Government’s Getting Building Fund via Y&NY LEP. Now detailed planning permission has been granted, construction work on units ranging in size from 1,500sq ft to 3,000sq ft will begin shortly.
Lindum development manager Andy Gardner said the site is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
“It was fantastic to show everyone how work is progressing and for the LEP to see the site coming to life,” he said. “The land was contaminated, and so initial works have included remediation, as well as installing infrastructure to enable development of serviced units.
“This scheme would not be happening without support from the Council and the LEP and I would like to applaud their commitment to pushing ahead with this development.”
North Yorkshire Council's executive member for open to business, Cllr Derek Bastiman, said: "This development is a fantastic example of what can be achieved through collaborative working.
“Supporting new businesses and helping to grow North Yorkshire’s economy is a key aim of our new council and I am really pleased that in Pickering we will be able to provide purpose-built units for new and expanding businesses in the local area.
“It is my vision to see units like these developed across the whole county so we can give young entrepreneurs the chance to get on the workforce ladder in start-up businesses.”
David Dickson, Chair of York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership’s Place & Infrastructure Board, said: “We committed investment from the Government’s Getting Building Fund to this scheme to unlock the economic potential of the site. We’re really pleased to see the progress at Pickering Park, which will bring much-needed employment space to the area.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
From a press release originally published by Lindum Group.
About the Getting Building Fund
• On 4 August 2020, the government confirmed the list of over 300 successful projects which will receive a share of £900 million from the Getting Building Fund. The full list of projects is available on GOV.UK. The Getting Building Fund is investing in shovel-ready infrastructure projects to create jobs and support economic recovery across the country.
• Projects funded include:
· regeneration of town and city centres
· green infrastructure and clean energy
· transport and digital connectivity improvements
· unlocking of housing and business sites
· support for SMEs and learners
• The successful projects (over 300) are expected to deliver up to 85,000 jobs, over 1,500,000 sqm of commercial floor space, unlocking 45,000 homes, almost 1,000,000 sqm of public realm or green space improved or created, over 50,000 new learners assisted, and 65 million kgs of CO2 emissions saved. All projects have been selected by Local Enterprise Partnerships and Mayoral Combined Authorities in each area and endorsed by the Housing Secretary.
