A MAJOR development near Durham has become fully operational with the opening of an Amazon’s Fulfilment Centre and the completion of over £20m of infrastructure.

Integra 61, the £300m mixed-use employment scheme brought forward by Citrus Durham, is on a 205-acre site next to Junction 61 of the A1(M), at Bowburn.

Amazon’s new facility, which is one of the UK’s largest logistics buildings, is bringing more than 1,000 new permanent jobs to the area.

Its opening coincided with the completion of a £5.5m improvement scheme to Junction 61 and the A688.

The work was undertaken by Durham County Council and jointly funded by the authority, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), through the Local Growth Fund, and Highways England. Citrus had already invested over £15m in infrastructure works on the site itself along with 2 new roundabouts on the A688, which completed in late 2019.

Integra 61 development will deliver a mix of uses, including a total 3 million sq ft of industrial and logistics space, about 300 new homes along with opportunities for a family pub/restaurant, hotel, drive-thru’s, trade counter units, car showrooms, a care home and a nursery.

David Cullingford, project lead for Citrus Durham, said: “After years in the making, Integra 61 is now entering an exciting new stage in its evolution, opening up for business and providing a first class environment in a highly strategic location set to attract more companies and investment to the region.

"Despite the challenges, we were always confident that our vision to create a large-scale, mixed use development of excellence was deliverable, and thanks to incredible support from the County Council, the North East LEP and other stakeholders, the site has now come to life." County council leader Councillor Simon Henig said: “The completion of the Integra 61 site is a major milestone for this project and also a sign of hope during uncertain times.

"The 1,000 jobs Amazon is bringing to the area will be the first of many, providing a wealth of opportunities for local people and boosting our economy.

“Supporting the development of strategic employment sites has long been a priority for the council and will play a crucial role in our recovery from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

By investing in the Integra 61 site and in others across the county, we can help to build confidence in our county and encourage more businesses to invest here.