MORE businesses are set to open their doors for the first time on a brand new Tyne Valley retail park.

Discount store B&M has already opened at Tyneview Retail Park in Prudhoe, with supermarket chain Aldi set to open on January 14, and local business Cafe Ginerva set to follow shortly afterwards.

The Tyne Valley's hotly anticipated first McDonald's restaurant has plans to start trading from a new drive thru unit next Spring, and the chain's iconic logo has already gone up.

The scheme is a joint venture between Northumberland County Council's development company, Advance Northumberland, and Northumberland Estates - the Duke of Northumberland's property arm.

Northumberland Estates has revealed a number of companies are well advanced in talks with international real estate advisor Savills, along with Barker Proudlove, to take over five of the remaining units over. The units range from 1,500 sq ft to 20,000 sq ft in size.

Anthony Cape, asset manager with Northumberland Estates, said: “For many years the retail offer in Prudhoe has been limited compared with other comparable towns of a similar size and population in the area.

"Tyneview will broaden choice for shoppers, as well as helping to attract new trade for the town, while also creating jobs.

"With new housing plans for the town also moving forwards, the future landscape of the Prudhoe looks very positive.”

There were fears the development could have an impact on the traders of the town's Front Street.

But Paul Murray, the chairman of the Front Street Traders Association, said: "We haven't noticed any changes yet. It's not having a negative impact.

"Hopefully, we will see people who don't normally shop in Prudhoe go town to the retail park and we can encourage them to Front Street."

There's been more good news for the site, after it was confirmed that the Number 10 bus would now be stopping there.

It's thought that once full, the retail park could create around 200 jobs for the town.

Gordon Stewart County Cllr for Prudhoe South & deputy business chair on Northumberland County Council said. “'The B&M store has been warmly welcomed by many people.

"I am delighted to hear local residents have secured employment there, and that there has been an increase in the number of shoppers in the town which will hopefully have been of assistance to other businesses."