New services for Northumberland as major investment opens up in Ashington

Ashwood Business Park in Northumberland has benefitted from a £4 million investment from one of the world’s leading independent convenience retailers, EG Group.

EG Group have built an 8,000 sq ft development on the site in South East Northumberland, beside the A189 just South of Ashington’s North Seaton, which includes a petrol filling station, convenience store, a drive-through Starbucks outlet and two foodservice offerings, Subway and Cooplands.

This new and exciting development has created over 45 full and part time roles and will now provide important amenities and services for existing users on the site as well as local residents and passing trade upon the busy A189. It represents a new gateway offer that will illuminate and animate the entrance of this newly defined business park.

The petrol station features four double-sided pumps, two HGV pumps in a separate area, two jet wash bays, a vacuum bay and an air/water bay, and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

There are 19 car parking spaces, including two disabled bays, at the shop, and 20, again including two disabled bays, at the Starbucks Drive-thru, which also has an outdoor seating area.

This investment from EG Group marks another step forward in the development of Ashwood Business Park. Last year, £2.7 million was secured from Advance Northumberland, Northumberland County Council and the North East LEP for infrastructure improvements to encourage further inward investment and growth projects at the site.

EG Group was founded in 2001 by the Issa family and has established itself as one of the world’s leading independent convenience retailers with an expanding portfolio of over 6,500 sites across the UK & Ireland, Continental Europe, the USA and Australia. The company has invested £6 million in the installation of renewable energy sources across its UK estate and committed £2.6 million to providing solar panels to more than 20 per cent of its sites.

Cllr Jeff Watson, Chair of Advance Northumberland said, “We’re delighted that EG Group has brought new amenities at Ashwood Business Park – and it’s fantastic to be welcoming a company of their calibre to the site.

“The petrol station, retail offering and foodservice offer from EG Group will enhance Ashwood Business Park’s infrastructure and further boost its appeal to investors looking for a well-connected location within a vibrant manufacturing cluster and with a highly skilled workforce on the doorstep.

“Ashwood Business Park is a place where businesses can develop and expand, and we have seen from the success of AkzoNobel and Bernicia Homes how companies can thrive at this prime location.”

Neil Findlay, UK Development Director at EG Group said: “We are delighted to have opened our brand new development and to have worked with Advance Northumberland on this development site within the Ashwood Business Park. Working in close partnership with Advance we firmly believe that our best in class roadside services will be an asset to the park and the wider Ashington area.”

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive at the North East LEP said: “The arrival of EG Group to Ashwood Business Park will further cement this Enterprise Zone as a very attractive prospect for investors. The site is in a prime location and businesses locating there will benefit from tax breaks and a range of interventions – we look forward to this site attracting many more businesses and creating more and better jobs for our residents.”

Advance Northumberland is the regeneration, physical delivery and business support vehicle delivering regeneration throughout Northumberland on behalf of Northumberland County Council.