As we approach the Summer of 2023, delivery of the North East’s largest speculatively developed industrial unit for more than a decade is drawing nearer.

The Connect industrial scheme at the £400M mixed-use Integra 61 development comprises of five speculative units including the 298,000 sq ft largest unit and will provide a variety of accommodation to a key area of the UK where demand is high, but supply is low.

Integra 61 is one of the North East’s most significant regeneration projects and is making huge strides in filling a crucial void in the industrial unit regional supply pipeline. With outline planning consent and infrastructure in place, the rapidly expanding scheme is well on the way to providing more than 3 million sq ft of employment space and creating over 3,000 jobs in the region.

The Connect units have been designed to complement the wider Integra 61 scheme and will provide a wide variety of industrial accommodation. In addition to the 298,000 sq ft unit, Connect is also delivering four other units ranging from 43,000 to 152,000 sq ft; each offering high quality, flexible industrial/warehouse space.

Work continues apace on the wider scheme to deliver further components of the mixed-use development, which includes a roadside element that is now seeing great success following the opening of Greggs and Costa Coffee drive-thru units with construction work set to start shortly on a further unit for KFC. The scheme also offers a wide range of flexibility for other roadside uses with strong interest in the remaining plots for EV charging, trade-counter units, hotel and self–storage use.

The housing element of the project is also proving highly successful with a 91-unit housing development (Clarence Gate) by Bellway well underway, delivering a mix of modern three and four bedroom detached and semi-detached homes at the northern part of the scheme. This will enhance the largely completed first phase of 170 houses being delivered by Persimmon, known as Millbeck Grange where many homes are already occupied.

David Cullingford, Project Lead for Integra 61, said; “The Connect units represent a significant development at Integra 61 playing a crucial role, in conjunction with the wider scheme, to meet the demand for high quality industrial accommodation in a region where supply has been historically low. It’s exciting to see more and more businesses choose the North East for their business needs and in turn what this can do for the region’s success in terms of raising its profile across the UK, investing in the local economy and local job creation as well.”