Durham County Council approves Jade Business Park expansion

The next phase of development at the Jade Business Park in Murton is set to proceed after the latest proposal for three units was supported by Durham County Council. 

Located near the A19, the council-owned scheme was created to provide space for distribution, technology, and advanced manufacturing businesses. 

Currently, six out of the seven units built during phase one are occupied, with 149 jobs on-site.  A lease agreement is underway for the remaining property. 

Last October, funding previously allocated by Durham County Council for the business park was pulled from its capital programme. 

An allocation of £2.6 million, funded by corporate borrowing, was outlined for enabling works to build additional industrial space as part of phase two at the Jade Business Park next to Dalton Park outlet centre.

Yet, the local authority said the scheme, alongside a similar development in Bishop Auckland, hasn’t been “completely banished” and will continue to be assessed for alternative investment and funding opportunities, minimising the need for council borrowing. 

A Durham County Council economy and enterprise scrutiny committee was told that staff are in contact with several companies about future opportunities at the site. 

While not directly on the Jade site, the Eastern Green Link 1 – a high voltage electrical connection providing a marine cable link between Scotland and a landfall point north of Seaham – could use the Jade site. 

New data centres and energy storage companies have also been linked with the development. 

The Murton site could also be home to an on-land substation for the proposed Morven Wind Farm –  a significant offshore wind project by bp and EnBW off the Aberdeenshire coast. 

“The extent of the proposed development and land requirement is still to be determined but it may be situated on the Jade Business Park.

“Durham County Council are having ongoing and regular contact with Morven about this project and any particular impacts on its viability as a strategic employment location,” a council report said.