Pre-development works on the new 2.5 million sq. ft Follingsby Max prime distribution/industrial development situated in Gateshead being developed by Highgrove have progressed a stage further with practically half of the 250,000 cubic metre of cut and fill earthworks now having been being completed.

Almost 40% of the stone carpet has also now been laid to form a resilient surface with fully serviced plots on track to be completed and ready for immediate development by the end of the year

At the same time, a series of ‘green Infrastructure’ works have commenced including formation of attenuation ponds and drainage features together with completing the capture and relocation of almost 25 great crested newts.

In other works planned, widening works to Follingsby Lane will commence in September and will be complete for Christmas. Incoming services have been planned, capacity has been secured and design works are progressing well

Commenting on progress onsite, David Price – Operations Director of Highgrove also said

“It’s very pleasing to see the development really now starting to form as the pace of infrastructure works and pre-development accelerates. We are firmly on track to having the development plateaus complete, fully serviced and oven ready for development by the end of the year.

The marketing campaign is now in full swing as we seek to highlight the characteristics of the development and specification, prime location and suitability for a range of potential occupiers with high-bay units from 200,000 upto 2,500,000 sq ft.

Follingsby Max sits in a prime strategic location and is ideally placed to support the growth of the region’s key sectors. It will provide high quality, flexible accommodation opportunities suitable for distribution, logistics operations, manufacturers and automotive companies.

Also commenting, David Land, Investment Board Chair at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which manages the Enterprise Zone programme for the region, said:

“It’s great to see this significant Enterprise Zone coming forward to be ready to attract companies within the distribution/logistics operations, manufacturing and automotive sectors. Enterprise Zones are a strategically important asset for the region and have the potential to help deliver more and better jobs for our region.”

‘Follingsby Max’, sits directly adjacent to Follingsby Park – the North East’s most prominent and successful industrial/distribution park development. It benefits from excellent access to the strategic road network, with direct access to the A194(M) providing fast connections to the A1(M), the A19 and north with good access to Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside. The scheme is ideally placed to support the region’s growth in key sectors, cementing its reputation as the premier distribution park in the North East.