Ashington regeneration scheme gets planning permission

A scheme to regenerate the Northumbrian town of Ashington has taken another step forward with a planning permission granted for the Portland Park scheme.

The planning consent includes a multi-screen cinema, restaurants and car parking. Outline planning permission also granted for up to 12,000 sq ft of additional retail space and more parking.

A further phase of the Portland Park scheme comprising more retail space and car parking is anticipated to be submitted in the next few months.

In 2019, Advance Northumberland exchanged contracts with Reel Cinema to operate the leisure facility and secured a land sale to a national retailer for the development a retail unit on the site.

Combined these private investments provide the nucleus and funding package that includes a £4.6m loan from Northumberland County Council along with a £3m grant to support the scheme.

Work could start as early as spring 2020, subject to all planning and contractual conditions being satisfied.

Council leader Peter Jackson said: “This ambitious but deliverable scheme is the culmination of carefully planned public and private investment into Ashington town centre, which has always been one of our priorities.”