An insurance company has opened a new base at a Spennymoor business park, with help
from a fund which brings vulnerable buildings back into use.
Durham County Council contributed £50,000 of its Towns and Villages Vulnerable
Buildings Fund to finish the construction 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 has 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.”