Major regen project to transform Ashington town centre
13 Jun 2023 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news
A regeneration programme worth almost £30m is set to revitalise Ashington town centre.
Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Ashington Regeneration Programme which is set to boost the town’s economy and drive forward the implementation of the Ashington Town Investment Plan.
The Cabinet report highlights that Ashington is on the edge of significant change with major projects underway that will fundamentally alter the town’s purpose, vitality and investment potential.
The new programme brings together significant funding from the council, the North of Tyne Combined Authority and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the recently announced award from the Government of £16.4m for transformational investments at Wansbeck Square and Portland Park sites.
These capital projects are a key part of the long-term vision for the town centre, which focuses later this year on improving pedestrian movements from the new Ashington Station through the high street into Portland Park and includes creating an attractive link from Woodhorn Road to Portland Park, at ‘Grand Corner’.
The Programme will support the development of proposals for a cinema facility and public realm at Portland Park further extending the leisure offer to this part of the town centre. A design team will be appointed in summer to drive forward plans.
Plans for the redevelopment of Wansbeck Square will get underway through the Programme, with the objective of creating an attractive town centre gateway from the new railway station including high quality public realm, landscaping, space for events and activities, and potentially a new community facility.
The Programme also brings together funding of £2.4m from the North of Tyne Combined Authority’s Town Centres and High Streets Investment Fund and the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
This grant to the council is funding the public realm improvements and saw the launch last November of targeted business support to Ashington traders and potential entrepreneurs, being delivered by Advance Northumberland.
This funding is also supporting a full programme of distinctive cultural events and activities in and around the town centre, designed and delivered by a Creative Team that will run from Autumn 2023 to March 2025.
There will be opportunities for the public to find out more about all the exciting investments later in the year as the Programme develops.
The creation of the Ashington Regeneration Programme adds to the significant investments already planned in the town. This includes the reopening of passenger rail services to the Northumberland Line, including Ashington Station by summer 2024, and the development of a state-of-the-art ‘Gen Zero’ Northumberland College campus at Wansbeck Business Park, being funded by the Department for Education.
The combined effect of all the investments in Ashington will revitalise the town centre and wider area, generating new visitors, footfall and spend as well as supporting further employment growth at Wansbeck Business Park and Ashwood Business Park.
County Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, said: “This is a major milestone in the redevelopment of Ashington town centre.
“The new Programme brings together a suite of emerging investments which will significantly contribute to the economic growth of the town and build on the game changing opportunities of the new passenger rail service to transform the town’s future.
“To have reached this stage is down to the commitment of everyone involved, from residents and businesses through to staff, Councillors, Ashington Town Board members and many others.
“It is a signal of our commitment to supporting the delivery of the Ashington Investment Plan developed with our private, public and community partners in the town.”
John Johnston, Chief Executive of Bernicia and Chair of the Ashington Town Board, said: "I’m delighted to see this new Programme being created by the council in support of the Ashington Investment Plan.
“Ashington is a town with major assets and huge potential and this suite of projects will help to secure a town centre the whole community can be proud of. This is a key priority for Ashington Town Board which has, and will, continue to bring partners in the town together, to champion our town with the aim of making it a fantastic place for all.”
Elected Mayor of North Tyneside and North of Tyne Cabinet Member for Housing, Land and Development, Dame Norma Redfearn DBE, said: “Our town centres are the heart of everything in our communities. Investing and regenerating our town centres supports local businesses to thrive and grow, as well as helping to further the economy on a local and regional level with increased footfall.
“The transformation of these town centres and high streets creates areas for local residents to enjoy, meet up with friends and socialise. The benefits it can bring to someone’s mental health and wellbeing are massive and a big part of what we want to do.
“I’m delighted to see these plans for Ashington progress and each of the local authorities will continue to engage residents in Ashington, Wallsend and the inner East of Newcastle to transform our high streets and create towns that they can be proud to call home.”