Northumberland Shines at UKREiiF 2025: A Stage for Global Investment
By Sarah McMillan, Director of Economic Development & Growth, Northumberland County Council
A Landmark Event for Northumberland
The UK Real Estate Investment & Infrastructure Forum (UKREiiF) 2025 in Leeds served as a pivotal platform to showcase Northumberland’s strategic investment opportunities to over 13,000 delegates, including investors, developers, and policymakers from across the world.
As part of a strong North East presence, Northumberland’s delegation highlighted the county’s strategic assets and recent significant investments, underscoring its position as a prime destination for sustainable growth and innovation.
Strategic Investment Sites in the Spotlight
Our presentations at UKREiiF spotlighted several key development sites in the County including:
- Northumberland Energy Park (Phases 1–3): A hub for offshore energy and advanced manufacturing, offering direct port access and substantial grid connectivity.
- Bates Clean Energy Terminal: Positioned to support the offshore wind sector with state-of-the-art facilities.
- West Hartford Business Park: An ideal location with access to the nearby Port of Blyth and clean-tech industries.
- Lynefield Park: A versatile site suitable for large-scale industrial developments.
- Ashwood Business Park: Offering ready-to-develop plots for various commercial ventures.
These sites collectively represent Northumberland’s commitment to fostering an environment conducive to industrial growth and innovation. UKREiiF 2025 also provided a platform to showcase:
- Blackstone QTS £10 Billion Data Centre: Blackstone QTS Data Centers has received outline planning approval to develop a £10 billion data centre on a 90 hectare site in Cambois, near Blyth. This project is expected to create hundreds of jobs including 1,200 construction jobs, marking a significant boost to the local economy, with Tag Greason, Co-CEO of QTS Data Centers, speaking on the Industries of the Future Panel at the event and giving an insight into the scale of the investment and the strong partnership that has been developed with the County Council to make the project a success.
- JDR Cables’ £130 Million Subsea Cable Facility: JDR Cables has commenced construction on a £130 million subsea cable manufacturing facility in Cambois, Northumberland. The 69,000 sqm factory will deliver vital subsea cable technology to the offshore wind market and providing 171 local jobs during the construction phase – an important anchor for the County as we enter into the 25th year of delivering offshore wind industry projects following the deployment of the first ever UK offshore wind farm in Blyth in the year 2000.
- Further investment into skills and innovation through Energy Central Campus: Following the successful opening of the Energy Central Learning Hub facility in Blyth, I chaired an expert panel session along with Martin Lawlor OBE – my fellow director and the Chair of Energy Central Campus Ltd – where we were able to provide an update on the Energy Central Institute, which has recently received planning permission to create a new higher education and innovation facility in the heart of Blyth town centre – with the aim of transforming the town centre and delivering the talent pipeline for the offshore wind sector.
The enthusiasm and collaboration displayed at UKREiiF 2025 reflect Northumberland’s approach to sustainable development. By leveraging our strategic assets and fostering strong partnerships, we are poised to attract further investments that align with our vision for a prosperous and resilient future.
Interested in learning more? Discover how you can be part of our growth story by visiting www.investnorthumberland.co.uk/invest
Together, let’s build a sustainable and innovative future in Northumberland.