UK Land Estates has embarked on the milestone refurbishment of a flagship 12-acre site on Team Valley, Gateshead.
The project is expected to take until early 2027 and will completely transform the Seventh Avenue site, which was acquired by UK Land Estates last year. The work will turn the traditional manufacturing plot into a model of energy efficient modern business space.
Preparatory work began at the vast 180,000 sq ft building in June and progressed rapidly throughout July and August. UK Land Estates is completely renovating and refurbishing the workspace, installing rooftop solar panel arrays, energy efficient insulating cladding and space for EV charging points, reducing energy bills and lowering carbon emissions.
The work will also create a new 107,000 sq ft building with docks and level access doors. Large yards allowing easy movement of articulated lorries, a 2MVA power supply. UK Land Estates will also retain a plot at the rear of the site, where it has plans to build a new 40,000 sq ft unit.
David Gibbs, Property Director of UK Land Estates, said: “This is a significant site on Team Valley and we expect a great deal of interest, primarily from businesses in the manufacturing and logistics sectors.
“In recent years, UK Land Estates has invested heavily in expanding and upgrading our portfolio. This includes refurbishments such as St George’s House, the construction of large industrial space like Centralway65 on Team Valley, and L7 at the Tyne Tunnel Estate. Development and refurbishment on the core estates is key to the business providing great facilities for companies to thrive, and amenities for staff to enjoy.
“It’s a really exciting opportunity for us to continue creating the best buildings for business in the region and enhancing the Team Valley’s offer even further.”
The investment in the Seventh Avenue site is part of a £35m package of upgrades spread across two years.
Keith Taylor, Managing Director of UK Land Estates, said: “Opportunities like this don’t come along very often, so we are very excited about the potential benefits this project could deliver – not just to Team Valley, but to the wider region.
“We are always ambitious and confident, and this project will deliver a high-specification environment that matches the rapidly evolving needs of modern commercial industry, bringing much-needed quality space to the market.”
Keith added: “This ambitious project reflects our confidence in the regional market. We are working hard to ensure the region continues to offer the ‘Grade A’ stock required to attract and retain world-class businesses.”