Multi-million town centre revamp will create 80 jobs

Oct 9 2008 by Dave Black, The Journal

SCORES of jobs will be created as part of a multi-million pound investment to revitalise the historic centre of a Northumberland market town.

The revamp for Bedlington will be spearheaded by a 17,000sqft expansion of the town’s Tesco supermarket – creating 80 jobs and boosting the total workforce to about 185.

The existing foodstore will be extended to include a range of clothing, electrical and other goods and help fill a disused gap site at the corner of the 18th Century Market Place. The scheme will also include six new shops and an enterprise centre – containing 15 offices – providing high quality retail and commercial space for local businesses.

The Tesco plans are part of what is described as the biggest single investment in Bedlington’s history, which also includes a £2m Townscape Heritage Initiative which is expected to get under way in January. Funded by Wansbeck Council, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the county council, that scheme will help restore historic Front Street buildings and re-establish the Market Place as a focal point for shopping and business.

Wansbeck MP Denis Murphy said: “Bedlington has needed a development like this for more than 20 years, and the fact we will get a large Tesco right in the town centre, an enterprise centre and more retail units is excellent news.”

Tesco bosses have been working with Wansbeck Council officials for several months to design a scheme which reflects the architectural character of the town centre, and fits in with a £16.5m Government-funded programme to promote new business start-ups in the district.