A new milestone for plans to help deliver more than 5,000 jobs and attract more than £300m of development is looming. The milestone is for the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) which is proposed for an area close to the A19 and to the north of Nissan’s existing manufacturing plant.
The IAMP is a joint project between South Tyneside and Sunderland City Councils. IAMP has already been designated a ‘Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project’ by the UK Government and it has pledged £42m through the North East LEP towards infrastructure including new roads, bridges and environmental enhancements. The project will also see contributions from the two local authorities and Enterprise Zone income in the form of retained business rates.
Sunderland’s meetings on Wednesday 22 November will examine updates and modifications for the IAMP’s Area Action Plan (AAP) following a Planning Inspector’s Report.
On Wednesday from 2pm, Sunderland City Council’s Cabinet is asked to consider the updated AAP for the site and a full council meeting from 6pm is being asked to adopt this plan.
The council’s Deputy Leader, Councillor Harry Trueman said: “IAMP is of major importance to South Tyneside and Sunderland, to all of our region, and indeed to the UK as a whole. These meetings and discussions on IAMP are another important step to securing this landmark development.
“There is already investor interest in the IAMP site and it can go on to unlock more economic and job creating opportunities for the North East.”
IAMP would cover more than 150 hectares of land with floorspace equivalent to more than 100 football pitches. It is expected to create more than 5,000 manufacturing jobs and attract more than £300m of investment.
Subject to further permissions, works could begin in 2018.
The AAP for the two councils sets down how the IAMP project needs to be developed comprehensively as a scheme and not piecemeal.
The AAP states: “The scale and national significance of the IAMP mean that it is inappropriate to allow it to come forward on a piecemeal basis, as this would undermine the IAMP AAP objectives and prejudice delivery.”
South Tyneside’s Cabinet meets on Wednesday 29 and its full council meeting examining the AAP is on Thursday 30 November.
Subject to the meetings and approvals from councillors as part of the decision-making process, the AAP would be adopted by the two councils as key parts of a long-term Local Plan. These local plans set down how an area should develop and provide guidelines for both public and private developers.
The report to Sunderland’s Cabinet notes that: “The Planning Inspector’s report has concluded that the IAMP as modified is sound and could be adopted by the councils as part of their respective Local Plans.”
Both councils have completed consultation on the IAMP plans, including a form of public inquiry known as a Public Examination.
And worked closely with the North East LEP (North East Local Enterprise Partnership), plus the areas of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland as part of the NECA (North East Combined Authority).
Sunderland City Council’s recommendation is to adopt the plan.
Posted in: Automotive and Advanced Manufacturing, General