Latest News
Issue Date: 28 February 2008
Government Announces £Millions for Market Renewal in NewcastleGateshead
The transformation of neighbourhoods in parts of NewcastleGateshead will continue apace after the Government announced funding for Bridging NewcastleGateshead’s regeneration programme for the next three years.
Communities Minister Iain Wright MP announced today (28th February) £95million in funding between 2008 and 2011 for Bridging NewcastleGateshead (BNG), which will support the market renewal partnership’s extensive efforts to improve housing quality and choice.
The funding, which will be complemented by millions of pounds of private investment, will enable homes of superior design to be built to high sustainable and energy efficiency standards and sustainable properties will be improved. One-to-one support for people living in clearance areas will continue to help them find a new home, private rented support and enforcement teams will ensure that the sector is better managed and communities will continue to be engaged in the delivery of the programme.
Housing Minister Iain Wright, announcing the national allocation, said:
"The Housing Market Renewal Programme has been vital for restoring confidence in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country. This substantial funding, together with increasing investment from the private sector and support from local authorities and others, will help the market renewal areas take forward their ambitious programmes to bring real change to places which only five years ago were facing decline and abandonment.
“This is a long-term programme, and there is still much work to do. The Pathfinder scheme has already made great progress in these areas, and this money will help bridge the gaps that still remain.”
The funding will be invested in an exciting ‘changing place’ programme, benefiting communities such as:
• Walker Riverside, where new homes are under construction, including a new development called ‘River’s Gate’, on the former McCutcheon’s Court site. All of the homes at River’s Gate are being built to high environmental standards and a show home on site has recently opened its doors to the public.
• St James Village, where construction on the innovative BoKlok homes is well advanced, with a show home also now open. The scheme is a first for the UK with all properties aimed at people on incomes between £15,000 and £35,000.
• Scotswood, where in another first, the Scotswood Expo development will signify the start of 1,800 new homes. The first 400 of these homes will make up an ‘Expo’ festival, acting as an exemplar of different housing types.
• Felling, where 195 new homes are under construction on Sunderland Road, which will incorporate environmental elements such as hot water powered by solar panels, making this one of the most eco-friendly developments in Gateshead. The new homes are complemented by a programme of housing improvements to homes in the south of Sunderland Road.
Jim Coulter, Chair of BNG said: “The Government’s announcement of sustained funding for our programme is excellent news for NewcastleGateshead and provides us with a unique opportunity to transform housing quality and choice within neighbourhoods.
“The Government’s continued support to the programme underlines the fact that we have already made great progress in improving neighbourhoods.
“We will continue to work in partnership with residents as well as the local authorities and other organisations to deliver change for the better. The next three years will see increased delivery on the ground, with more and more new homes built and improvements made to benefit residents.”
The Government’s announcement comes after BNG achieved the highest rating possible in its latest assessment by Government watchdog the Audit Commission. Rated as ‘performing strongly’, BNG received the high score after an intensive evaluation which identified a range of strengths. These included BNG’s comprehensive use of housing market intelligence and information as the basis for its strategy and programme as well as its strong focus on community engagement and community cohesion.
John Shipley, Leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “Homes are fundamental to people’s well-being, making a huge difference to most people’s lives economically, socially and physically. Providing the right choice of homes contributes to a sense of place in supporting and enabling economic growth.”
Councillor Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council said: “The regeneration of our communities and the provision of top quality housing for everyone is a key principle of what we are trying to achieve. By having the right homes and the infrastructure to match we will be having a huge impact economically and directly upon residents.”