Ashington to benefit from Northumberland Council regeneration cash

Posted by The Journal on Jul 4, 09 10:54 AM in News

Northumberland's new super council is preparing to start spending £2.7m of Government funding on "pump priming" key sites earmarked for a major housing-led regeneration programme.

South East Northumberland was designated an official Growth Point a year ago as part of a Government initiative involving 6,300 new homes in the county by 2017.

Blyth Estuary, the Ellington/Lynemouth area, the former St George's Hospital in Morpeth, Cambois, East Ashington and south west Cramlington have been earmarked as the six areas to benefit from the programme, which aims to deliver regeneration and increased affordable housing.

Now Northumberland has been awarded a £2.69m Growth Fund by the Government to kick start the process up to 2011, and this week county councillors will decide how to start spending the allocation.

Planning officers say current market conditions mean accelerated housing development will not be possible over the next two years - so the initial priority is to understand the aims of potential developers and make sure that the six growth areas are 'development ready' for an upturn in the economy. A report to county councillors on Tuesday says the Government funding will be directed at projects which will unlock or accelerate housing development.

Suggested schemes include the assessment and identification of phased improvements to the road network between Blyth town centre and the A189, to tackle traffic congestion and upgrade links to the Blyth Estuary development area.

Others are sustainable transport projects in partnership with local bus operators and increased environmental and recreation opportunities, including plugging a funding gap in a Blyth Estuary cycleway.

In addition, limited revenue funding of £85,000 will be used to appoint a temporary specialist Growth Point officer for two years.

The report to the economic prosperity and strategic services scrutiny committee by senior planner, Gordon Halliday, says: "The Growth Point initiative aims to provide more homes, and the Growth Fund will assist the council to invest in the essential services needed to accompany the delivery of these new homes."

The county council submitted a bid for £8.5m in Growth Point funding for the period to 2011, but Mr Halliday says the £2.7m allocation reflects the fact that, nationally, bids far outstripped the finances available.

Announcing the Growth Point programme last summer, then housing minister Caroline Flint said 12,900 new homes would be built in Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland, although she conceded that the challenging property market could hit the plans.

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