Work begins on £4.5 leisure scheme
Construction work has begun on a new £4.5m retail and leisure development in Northumberland which could create more than 100 jobs.
BRIMS Construction has been appointed to develop the 16,000 sq ft centre at Blyth’s South Beach.
The development will create up to 100 jobs during the initial construction phase alongside 75 full and part time retail leisure jobs once the first phase of the development is completed in September.
Phase one is part of plans by Blagdon Estate to transform the existing derelict buildings on land on the Links Road into a new 3,750 sq ft Co-op convenience store with a further six smaller units available to lease.
Plans for the first-floor accommodation will also create more than 4,000 sq ft of space to accommodate a new health and fitness gym, studio or restaurant.
The start of work, which will be overseen by North East construction consultants Consult North, appointed by Blagdon Estate to manage the project, comes in the wake of substantial residential development in the South Blyth area, which has seen 600 new homes built over the past 10 years.
Javaad Khalil, managing director a Consult North, said:
"This project has been four years in the making, due to various obstacles, but now that the wheels are finally in motion, I am incredibly proud that Consult North has been appointed project managers for this development. The project will not only bring much needed amenities to this area of town, but it also allows for some exciting retailers to be part of this gateway development, which will ultimately encourage a great deal of growth for the local economy of Blyth."
The project is viewed as an important regeneration initiative for the town and follows studies and research that revealed visitors to Northumberland spent more than £1bn when they travelled to the county in 2019.
Stuart Hall, director at Kingsmead Developments, development partner with Blagdon Estate, said: “This project will help to transform an important part of Blyth, creating jobs and boost the local economy in the process. The new hub will deliver a wealth of benefits for local residents and traders, as visitor numbers continue to increase, and people spend on local amenities.”
Plans for the second phase of development, which includes a further two acres of adjoining land next to the South Beach car park and national cycle route, are already underway with proposals likely to be brought forward during the course of 2022.
The plans could include further leisure uses and retirement living accommodation.
Ian Levy, MP for Blyth Valley, said:
"It will bring new jobs to Blyth, new retail, hospitality and leisure facilities for people living in the town and an improved offer to people visiting our beautiful beach. That the Co-op and others have already signed up shows strong commitment to the Blyth Valley area."
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