An application has been made to Durham County council to build three retail shops on the corner of Redworth Road on Aycliffe Business Park. The purpose is to serve workers on the Park, but in which way and what commodities is not clear from the application. There was once an idea to build a small retail outlet on the corner of Long Tens Way near Hitachi and might have included a Greggs, but that has not materialised. More and more retail and service industries have become established over the last 10 years indicating there could have been an Aycliffe Retail Park if the authorities had more foresight and encouraged it in the past, instead of letting other smaller industrial estates take precedence. Better retail provision  was a priority in the recent Great Aycliffe Neighbourhood Plan, but investigation showed we have missed the boat!