Local Growth Team

Introduction:

The Local Growth Team seeks to focus on supporting the development of a robust and diverse economy and sustainable communities across Northumberland. This will be undertaken through an approach that enhances the work delivered across the Local Services Group in order to support place based, community and rural development.

The Local Growth Team has embraced a way of working which is ideally suited to support the development and delivery of the differing opportunities that arise and which reflects the differing needs of the communities within the County. The team will be responsible for the development and delivery of significant projects either directly, in partnership or through the facilitation and enablement of others. This includes local, community based initiatives, infrastructure or reclamation projects, town centre schemes or sites and premises developments.

Whilst a great deal of work will be undertaken either directly or in partnership with others an important facet of the teams role will be in helping to facilitate or enable the actions of others. The Local Growth Team is ideally placed to work with other public and private sector organisations to encourage them to identify and deliver new initiatives.

Key service areas include the growth and development of the rural areas of Northumberland and of our key market towns incorporating the development and delivery of regeneration initiatives across these areas, and the maximum effective utilisation of external funds within the County. As stated, a great deal of work undertaken by the Local Growth Team will concentrate on the growth of our main Towns which are seen as the economic hubs and main service centres within Northumberland. This is not to say that the more remote communities are not supported. A number of initiatives have and are developed to address specific needs within these communities.   

Sector Support

The Local Growth Team have the lead responsibility within the Council for the following sectors/areas of work;

• Land Based Sector support – including Agriculture, Forestry and Estates.
• Food & Drink
• Rural retailers

Much activity takes place through the support for and facilitation of initiatives led by sector organisations or partnerships such as;

• Forestry                          Northwoods
• Food and Drink                 Taste NE
• Rural Retailers                  Rural Shops Alliance

In addition Local Growth Team officers attend regional and National workshops and seminars that aim to shape policy and initiatives aimed at supporting these sectors and a represented on key groups and partnerships. E.g. the North East Farming and Rural Advisory Network (NEFRAN) steering group.