Arlington Real Estate and Homes England have submitted an outline planning application for West Hartford Park, a proposed large-scale commercial and industrial development on the edge of Cramlington that could deliver more than one million sq ft of employment space for Northumberland.
The 126-acre site, described as the county’s largest remaining strategic employment allocation, is located close to the Port of Blyth and is intended to support growth across industrial, manufacturing and logistics markets. The scheme forms part of the Energy Central Partnership, positioning South East Northumberland as a focal point for offshore and renewable energy, clean technology and advanced manufacturing, and is also expected to align with opportunities linked to the recently announced AI Growth Zones.
Arlington and Homes England said the Port of Blyth is working closely with the development team to maximise economic impact and support efforts to attract major national and international occupiers. The Port of Blyth is also home to ORE Catapult’s testing facilities, which play a role in the offshore wind sector’s technology development.
Ahead of the formal marketing launch, scheduled for early 2026, the partners said the scheme has already attracted strong early occupier interest.
If delivered, West Hartford Park is expected to support around 2,000 jobs and generate more than £400 million of investment for the North East economy.
The masterplan includes flexible B2 and B8 accommodation ranging from 174,375 sq ft up to 532,000 sq ft, offered on freehold and leasehold terms. Proposals also include office space, ancillary retail and education and innovation facilities, with units designed to be adaptable to end-user requirements and supported by significant power capacity, high-quality infrastructure and strong connectivity.
A sustainability-led approach is central to the proposals, with more than 35% of the site allocated to green and open space, including nature trails, walking routes and amenities such as a coffee shop and other ancillary uses, aiming to create a wellbeing-led business park environment.
Dean Cook, Managing Director of Arlington Real Estate, said: “Submitting the planning application marks an important milestone in unlocking the full potential of West Hartford Park. This is the only site in the region capable of delivering development at this scale, in a location that has the power, infrastructure and global connectivity that large occupiers require.”
He added: “There is already strong interest from major national and international businesses, and we believe West Hartford Park will become a significant commercial location not only for the region, but for the UK.”
Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council and Cabinet Member for Business, Growth and Regeneration, said the application was “very welcome news” and highlighted the importance of maximising the site to bring further investment and jobs into Northumberland.
Martin Lawlor OBE, Chief Executive of the Port of Blyth, said the partnership will help unlock additional capacity for port-related development and act as a catalyst for wider regional growth.
