THE future of a vital manufacturing site will be decided in the next few weeks.

The International Advanced Manufacturing Park in Sunderland is a joint venture between South Tyneside Council and Sunderland City Council, whose cabinets are being asked to agree a strategy for future investment at the 150-hectare site, which will provide a world-class environment for automotive, energy, low carbon, logistics and manufacturing businesses that will create over 7,000 jobs.

Phase One of the IAMP has progressed well since work started in late 2019, attracting hundreds of millions of pounds in investment from manufacturing giants Envision AESC, Faltec and SNOP.

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Now an Interim Position Statement will become a material planning consideration alongside the Area Action Plan which was formally adopted by both councils in 2017 and is due to be reviewed in late 2022.

Cllr Mark Walsh, lead member for regeneration and economy at South Tyneside Council, said: “IAMP is a hugely significant development which is going from strength to strength. The AAP is a framework for development, and it’s been very successful in managing applications and infrastructure, with continuing demand for floorspace.

“However there has been a number of changes since it was adopted, both in the local and national context, and it’s important that these are taken into account when determining planning applications.

“We’ve seen changes in planning policy, carbon commitments, the increase in electrification of the automotive sector, the response to Brexit and supply chains, and the Environment Bill gaining royal assent.

“To fully assess these changes in circumstances, we, along with our partners at Sunderland City Council, have prepared the Interim Position Statement.”

Cllr Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, added: “Both authorities are committed to ensuring our collective continued development of the IAMP will play a key role in helping us recover from the pandemic greener and stronger.”

 

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