Sustainable
economic development regeneration
SEEDA - 200 new jobs secured as first major employer locates as Queenborough and Rushden
Two hundred new jobs have been secured at
Queenborough and Rushenden on the Isle of Sheppey, with the
announcement that multi-national supermarket chain Aldi is to
build a 56,500 sq m regional office and distribution centre at
this key regeneration site in the Thames Gateway.
In what will be one of the biggest shed deals of the year, Aldi
has exchanged contracts with the South East England Development
Agency (SEEDA) to construct the centre on 13 hectares at the new
Neats Court business park.
The announcement heralds the most significant private sector
employment investment on the Isle of Sheppey for more than 40
years. It will also provide a major boost for the local rural
economy as Aldi sources much of its fresh produce locally.
This deal follows the signing of a development agreement between
SEEDA, (advised by Harrisons Chartered Surveyors) and The Crown
Estate (advised by Cluttons LLP), which owns the Neats Court
area and is actively supporting the regeneration and
re-development plans. SEEDA will provide initial funding for
site preparation and infrastructure and will project manage the
scheme.
SEEDA has also submitted a masterplan to Swale Borough Council
outlining proposals to build up to 2,000 new homes, 180,000 sq m
of employment space, a new primary school, community and leisure
facilities, open space. This is expected to be adopted in the
summer and further interest is already being expressed in other
sites on Neats Court. Later this year it is likely that
SEEDA will bring the first residential sites to the market.
Email:
jaynemclaughlan@seeda.co.uk