Major manufacturer Legrand granted permission to build new North East base at Cramlington

Plans for a new manufacturing building associated with the clean energy sector have been approved for a Northumberland business park.

The 3,700 square metre building will create more than 200 jobs when it is build on Land east of Enterprise Court on Crossland Park in Cramlington. The company behind the project, Legrand, employs 38,000 people across the globe.

Legrand, described as a "global specialist electrical and digital infrastructure company" are currently based in Wembley. However, council documents explained that the business is looking for a new base closer to the offshore energy sector and "associated skills base" in south east Northumberland.

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The report goes on to say that the new location would provide "synergy and shared skills" with existing facilities in nearby Blyth, as well as creating skilled jobs in Cramlington.

Speaking at Tuesday's meeting of Northumberland County Council's Strategic Planning Committee, chairman Coun Trevor Thorne said: "This is an exciting application.

"We established a renewable energy sector and then you get companies like Legrand coming along wanting to invest. It really works well.

"It is so pleasing to see it happening. We had JDR Cables coming along in Blyth and now we have the relocation of a London company - it is great for our economy."

Local ward councillor Barry Flux added: "This is an industrial area and it has always been an allocated site for this kind of thing. I support this and I hope all colleagues will support this."

And Labour's Julie Foster commented: "This is bringing employment to the area, and will also bring spend into Cramlington. It is an addition to the local economy which is very much welcomed."

The plans also included a 1,580 metre service yard and 107 car parking spaces including 10 EV charging points. Councillors unanimously voted to approve the proposals. It is estimated that work could start later this summer.

Legrand already has six bases in the UK, including its Birmingham headquarters and sites in Wembley, Scarborough and Consett.