The 640,000 sq ft Connect industrial scheme at Integra 61 has passed the mid point at the £400M Durham mixed-use development as the steel frames are completed on the largest speculatively developed industrial scheme in the North East for more than a decade, filling a crucial void in the regional supply pipeline.
The 298,000 sq ft stand-alone Connect 298 unit is the largest of the 5 industrial units taking shape and on track for completion this Summer, along with 4 additional high quality industrial/warehouse units ranging from 43,000 to 152,000 sq ft on an adjacent plot at the heart of the Integra 61 scheme at J61 of the A1(M).
The new Connect units will complement the range of accommodation available across the 200 acre site, with the remainder of the Integra 61 scheme providing unit sizes from 1,200 sq ft upwards.
Citrus secured a £75m forward funding deal in 2022 to deliver this phase of speculative development and appointed regionally based contractor, GMI Construction, on all 5 units. Avison Young and CBRE are marketing the new units to potential occupiers, helping to meet demand for high quality new build industrial/warehouse space in the region.
Integra 61 is one of the North East’s key regeneration projects with outline consent in place for more than 3 million sq ft of employment space and the potential to create more than 3,000 jobs. Already home to Amazon’s 2m sq ft Fulfilment Centre, occupiers can choose design and build packages for units to meet their specific needs and this speculative phase of development will satisfy those companies looking for space that is already under construction.
David Cullingford, Project Lead for Integra 61 and Citrus, said:
“To see the steel frames complete and cladding progressing apace on this significant development is hugely important for the region as it takes us a step closer to easing chronic shortages of high quality industrial accommodation in the North East. The range of unit sizes has been devised to align with demand and we are excited to watch the progress taking place ahead of completion this summer.”
Matthew Stevens, Head of Development at Sunrise Real Estate, commented:
“We are very pleased to see the Connect units steadily progressing towards completion this summer. The units integrate well with the wider scheme, providing high-quality industrial and logistics units at varying sizes, servicing local businesses and residents and creating meaningful job opportunities for the community.”
The adjacent roadside element at Integra 61 is also seeing great success with the team at Citrus recently securing KFC, who will open a new drive-thru to sit alongside the recently opened Greggs and Costa Coffee drive-thru units. There is strong interest in the remaining plots for a variety of uses including EV charging, trade-counter units and self-storage.
Bellway’s 91-unit housing development (Clarence Gate) is well underway to deliver a mix of modern three and four-bedroom detached and semi-detached homes at the northern sector 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.
