Rural business units, Middleton-in-Teesdale

The project was developed in collaboration with the Lincolnshire Community Foundation, Rose Regeneration, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP), the Northumberland and Durham Councils, and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Middleton-in-Teesdale has been chosen as the location for the first of the Rural Growth Network Enterprise Hub projects and the project aims to overcome barriers to growth in rural areas, address the lack of suitable premises, whilst stimulating sustainable growth, employment and economic activity in rural places.
The project has involved developing a concept for modular business units that can be adapted to suit varying locations across the county, providing space and encouraging knowledge transfer, creating opportunity for networking, mentoring, training and skills development.
The proposals feature sustainable low cost units that sensitively respond to context, climate and local resources. Utilizing local construction skills, accessibility, energy and cost efficiency are key considerations in the design of the flexible building units that can be organised to suit the specific site parameters and user requirements.

To read Defra’s press release click here.