Gateshead and Newcastle are one step closer to major investment following today’s announcement that the Government has selected them as one of the key areas for new house construction in the UK.
In 2006 Communities and Local Government (CLG) announced the first 45 towns and cities to gain ‘New Growth Point’ status. However these were all in the south of England. NewcastleGateshead is one of the first towns and cities in the North of England to be awarded this status.
New Growth Points are long term partnerships with Government to pursue sustainable housing growth to increase supply. Designation brings the opportunity to access Government funding for tackle infrastructure issues such as transport and environment.
The application to CLG in October 2007 was submitted jointly by Gateshead Council, Newcastle City Council and Bridging NewcastleGateshead (BNG), the housing market renewal pathfinder, to drive Tyneside’s economy forward.
The announcement comes as a great opportunity for both local authorities to attract further funding to deliver more housing that will cater for future increases in demand and ensure that the right homes are built in the right locations at the right time. Despite the current economic climate, New Growth Point status is a great opportunity to drive up demand and help people access housing that they currently cannot, whether for reasons of affordability or availability.
Jim Coulter, Chair of BNG said: “We welcome the opportunity to further link market renewal to the growth of communities within NewcastleGateshead. Together with the local authorities we are committed to improving housing choice and supporting sustainable communities and economic growth within the heart of Tyneside.”
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 principal of what we are trying to achieve. By having the right homes and the infrastructure to match we will have a huge impact economically and directly upon residents.”
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."
The partnership’s proposals to grow the housing market include new urban communities at Gateshead’s centre, a new urban village, which could include another bridge across the Tyne and a series of sustainable communities in the ‘Tyne Corridor’, which will include enhancing existing high quality public transport.