Airport News

Airport News

Durham Tees Valley Airport Limited is seeking £5.9 million support from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund programme for the provision of highways and services infrastructure for a major development project on 150 acres of land south of the airport runway.

The ‘Southside’ bid was submitted to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and, following completion in around 10 years time, the project will deliver new employment opportunities to the area as well as safeguard jobs at the airport.

Peter Nears, strategic planning director for the Peel Group, explained, “There is planning consent for aviation-related employment in the Southside area and the proposal we have submitted to the Government would generate around 1,500 new jobs.

“This is a very significant project, not just for the airport, but the area as a whole and we have worked closed with the Tees Valley Unlimited Local Enterprise Partnership in the preparation of the bid. We are very pleased that it has the written support of the LEP and the Homes and Communities Agency, together with Stockton and Darlington Borough Councils.

“Since becoming the majority shareholder in the airport earlier this year we have made clear that it is vital for the future of Durham Tees Valley that we develop the full potential of the whole site and the funding we hope to gain through the Regional Growth Fund will enable us to provide a link between the existing airport activities on the north side of the runway and the new employment land to the south.

“Whilst there are a wide range of possibilities for attracting businesses related to aviation activities, we expect that a key element in the development will be logistics services, given the proximity to the A66, leading to the A1 and the national motorway network.”