Northumberland Economic Growth
We are investing in your towns:
● Our market towns initiative will help to regenerate the county’s nine towns; generating over £33 million in capital income and annual savings in Council running costs of £2 million to re-invest in the market towns.
● We have introduced free parking in every town and parish that asked for it - making shopping locally a much more attractive prospect for people again.
● Three Council sites will become brand new Lidl stores in Bedlington, Blyth and Ashington and we’re converting Bedlington’s old Tesco site into a shiny new retail space - boosting jobs, footfall and spending.
● In Prudhoe, Arch, through a joint venture with Northumberland Estates, have developed a scheme to improve the retail offer. This includes a town centre retail development located on the former allotment site off Front Street with a second town centre development also proposed off Princess Way. It is anticipated that these developments will create around 200 jobs.
● Following the demolition of the old Kwik Save store in Walkergate, Berwick in September 2015 the construction of a new 1,500m² office building commenced in April 2016 and was completed in November 2016. £100,000 from the Mary Portas fund (match funded by the council) has been invested in regenerating the town.
● The Wallace Green Planning building has now been refurbished to create a modern back office facility for a number of council and NHS services. By investing in technology, it means that staff will be able to spend more time on providing services for residents and cut down on journey times.
● In Berwick, a number of buildings have been refurbished while others are undergoing modernisation work as part of the council’s programme to review all its properties across the market town. A one stop shop for council services has been created in the refurbished Walkergate building bringing together the library, customer services and the Tourist Information Centre, as well as the local adult learning service.
● We have opened the Mowbray Day Centre for people with learning and physical disabilities. Near to shops and public transport the new site offers brighter, large
rooms that give greater flexibility for activities that include dance and performing arts, sports activities and baking activity and sales.
● Northumberland County Council are now developing a new Economic Growth
Plan for Berwick working with local stakeholders.
● As part of the wider regeneration of Ashington the County Council has committed
£250,000 for a Shopfront Improvement Scheme to bolster the High Street.
● The County Council and Arch together secured new Enterprise Zone status for sites in three towns in Northumberland - Berwick, Morpeth and Ashington from
2017.
● The County Council supported 182 social enterprises.
● Rural Growth has been supported working across the North through the Borderlands initiative which has secured a new partnership for growth between Northumberland, Cumbria and Scottish Borders Councils.
● The County Council is a strategic and funding partner in the delivery of the new
£12m The Sill National Landscape and Discovery Centre on Hadrian’s Wall which is currently being built.
● At Newbiggin the redevelopment by Arch of two former now derelict public houses will continue and become a key part of the ongoing regeneration of the town. The new Front Street development will include commercial opportunities and an office for Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Town Council, along with modern and accessible public conveniences, and apartments available to rent on the upper floors.
● Through the Portas scheme, Newbiggin was awarded £94,300 (match funded by the council) with a further £54,000 from a variety of sources to boost trade and rejuvenate High Street.
● Agreement has been reached in principle to secure the future of Alnwick
Playhouse for both residents and visitors to the town. The building would
continue to be a theatre, while the council will use part of the building to provide a library, tourist information and front-office council facilities.
● Work is underway to re-open Station Road, Ashington’s main shopping street to traffic to boost local trade, improving the overall look of the street and help deliver wider economic benefits as part of the ongoing regeneration of the town centre. Approval was given to build a new smaller more efficient council headquarters on an invest to save scheme at Portland Park as part of the regeneration of Ashington.
● We are working in partnership with Aln Valley Railway Heritage Railway to deliver cafe facilities on site at the growing heritage railway site at Alnwick. The aim is to provide working experience for people with learning disabilities who use our Pottergate centre, while raising the profile of people with learning disabilities in their own community and promoting the services provided by the Pottergate centre and the council.
● The Pottergate Centre in Alnwick has teamed up with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s Hospital Volunteer Service (HVS) to sell produce from the Pottergate Pantry in volunteer-run shops in the hospitals. The Pottergate Centre is one of eight day centres for adults with learning disabilities, supporting
51 adults with learning, physical or health-related disabilities.
● New public transport facilities, housing and retail premises represents a £3.3 million investment in Hexham town centre, including a new bus station. The Council supported the new Hexham Business Improvement District which has now been launched and will deliver £1.2 million of improvements to the town.
● The £1.9 million Seafood Town project provides dedicated facilities for fisheries in Amble. The council is working with the community in Amble to develop 15 retail pods in the Harbour Village development together with a Seafood Centre which seeks to support the local fishing fleet.
● Northumberland continues to be a popular wedding destination, with about 80 approved venues and more than 1,700 ceremonies taking place in 2015-16 with over half of the couples getting married coming from outside of Northumberland
