An insurance company has opened a new base at a business park in Spennymoor, supported by a funding scheme aimed at bringing underused buildings back into use.
Durham County Council contributed £50,000 from its Towns and Villages Vulnerable Buildings Fund to support the completion and refurbishment of a large unit at Thinford Park.
The unit, originally designed to be a hotel, was unfinished and had stood empty since 2021 when an occupant was not found. However, contributions from the council and the site’s owner, Initial Group, have ensured the completion of the building.
Part of the site is now home to NFU Mutual’s Durham Districts Agency, bringing 250m2 of commercial floorspace into use and relocating 30 full-time jobs.
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism and high street, said:
“Thinford Park sits within our Spennymoor Pride in Place boundary area, where one of our local priorities, identified by the community, is to support businesses.
“Since this unit has stood unused, the building has deteriorated and there was a risk of this continuing if a tenant was not secured. We’ve worked closely with the owner, who has been successful in attracting other large businesses to the site, to make this site viable. We’re pleased that the contribution from our Towns and Villages fund has enabled the owner to refurbish the unit.
“Bringing the units back into use has not only improved the visibility of Thinford Park and the local area but supported regeneration in the form of bringing over 30 full-time jobs.”
Over the last few years, Thinford Park has gone from strength to strength, attracting businesses including Costa, Burger King, One Gym, Toolstation, Screwfix and Howdens, creating more than 100 jobs.
Wayne Baister, owner of Initial Group, said:
“Thinford Park is a destination location and is attracting excellent regional and national operators to this busy vibrant site. We are delighted to welcome NFU Mutual as an anchor tenant to Ikon House. The support from Durham County Council enabled us to complete the development of the single storey offices, which created a significant number of jobs as a result.”
