Council to acquire sites to transform Ashington town centre

16 Jan 2024 ARCHIVED (over 3 months old) - view latest news

The Council is to acquire two major town-centre sites in Ashington as part of the ongoing £30m regeneration programme in the town. 

The Cabinet has agreed to complete the purchase of sites at Wansbeck Square and 2-4 Woodhorn Road, known locally as ‘Grand Corner’ for just over £1.5m. Both sites are crucial to plans to revitalise the town centre and follows the appointment last month of design teams to take forward ambitious plans across Ashington. 

In 2023 councillors approved the establishment of the Ashington Regeneration Programme which to boost the town’s economy and contribute to the delivery of the Ashington Town Investment Plan. 

The 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 the Wansbeck Square and Portland Park sites. 

These capital projects are a key part of the long-term vision for the town centre, improving pedestrian movements from the new Ashington Station through the high street and includes creating an attractive link from Woodhorn Road to Portland Park, at ‘Grand Corner’. 

The investments are designed to create new facilities at either end of the high street that will attract the community and visitors, increasing vibrancy, footfall and spending. 

The Council anticipate that the demolition of the existing buildings at Wansbeck Square and potential construction of a new community facility could start in Winter 2024 with completion currently forecast as March 2026. 

Creation of the proposed Grand Corner Gateway in the north east of the town centre, on Woodhorn Road adjacent to Lintonville Terrace, will see demolition of an existing end building later this year and the public realm works starting in January 2025 through to summer 2025. 

Advance Northumberland currently forecast that construction work on the proposed new cinema facility could commence on the Portland Park site in late Autumn 2024, with a projected opening in early summer 2026. 

These dates are indicative only, with developments subject to planning consent. 

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 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. 

Cabinet also approved the development of a high-level business case to the North of Tyne Combined Authority in order to secure funding from the Northumberland Line Economic Corridor Investment Fund for the redevelopment of Wansbeck Square. 

County Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, Northumberland County Council’s Cabinet Member for Business, said: “Acquiring these two key sites in the town is a critical step in the regeneration of Ashington town centre alongside other major investment including the new Northumberland Line Ashington Station. 

“Thanks to all our partners support we’re now at a stage where we can proceed to make some significant improvements to Ashington town centre for everyone’s benefit beginning later this year.” 

Ashington Central County Councillor Caroline Ball added: “Everyone is keen to see progress in the town centre and the council taking ownership of the sites at Wansbeck Square and Woodhorn Road is crucial to making this happen. 

“We'll continue to work with businesses and residents to shape the future of our town.” 

John Johnston, Chief Executive of Bernicia and Chair of the Ashington Town Board, added: “It’s great to be starting 2024 with more positive announcements for the town centre and we look forward to seeing further progress to develop these sites.” 

The Council is developing a dedicated webpage for the Ashington Regeneration Programme which will go live in the coming weeks, providing residents and businesses with the latest information on projects, plans, events and opportunities to get involved.