Hirst Masterplan

Details of plans for the Hirst area of Ashington.

The Hirst Masterplan was developed with the community by Ryder Architecture Ltd for Northumberland County Council.

This is a draft summary, developed with the community and we will continue involve local residents as the project develops over the coming months and years.

In the executive summary you can view the following: 

  • Introduction 
  • Headlines 
  • Background to the Project 
  • The Process 
  • Context 
  • The Study Area 
  • Stakeholder and Community Engagement 
  • Approach to the Masterplan 
  • Aims for the Hirst 
  • Key areas for improvement 
  • Project Ideas 
  • Masterplan Overview 
  • Pilot Area Options 
  • Projects and Phasing 
  • Next Steps 

More information will be added to this page as plans are developed with the community over the coming months. This is a long-term project and Northumberland County Council is committed to working with the community throughout its development. You can view the executive summary by clicking this link Hirst Masterplan Executive Summary
 

For the further information or to discuss how you can get involved please contact one of our dedicated Officers for the programme: 

Neil Quinn, Hirst Strategic Lead
Mobile: 07561 601711
Email:   neil.quinn01@northumberland.gov.uk

Gary McGuire, Hirst Community and Housing Programme Manager
Mobile: 07561 601843
Email: gary.mcguire@northumberland.gov.uk





Coulson Park Site Public Consultation

You are invited to share your views on the proposed new affordable rented housing development on the former Coulson Park School site, Alexandra Road, Ashington.

Initial scheme proposals by Bernicia include 57 new homes, comprising of 2 & 3 bedroom bungalows; and 2, 3 and 4 bedroom houses, which will be available at social/affordable rent levels.

This proposal is still at the early consultation stage, and the proposal may be subject to further changes as the consultation and design progresses in the coming months, prior to a planning application being submitted later this year.


We would really like to hear your views on the proposals, so please feel free to email Gary McGuire garymcguire@northumberland.gov.uk or Neil Quinn neil.quinn01@northumberland.gov.uk with your comments.   


Please click here to view the draft proposals.


 

Animating Ashington

Animating Ashington is a programme of events designed to bring colour and excitement to Ashington Town Centre and surrounding areas. Several of the events are based in Hirst, for more details of the programme and to see the schedule of events please visit the Animating Ashington website at Animating Ashington | Walk the Plank



We’d love to hear from you if you live, work, visit or have any connection with the Hirst area in Ashington.  We want to know what is most important to you – is it safe, clean and tidy streets?  Is it neighbours being able to support each other?  Are green spaces and nature important to you?  Let us know what your priorities are – this will help us to start to act on the issues you tell us about, and draw up plans for the future of the Hirst.    
 
Please pop in and have a chat with us over a cuppa and cake at St Andrew’s Church Hall (on the corner of Hawthorn Road and Third Avenue) anytime between 2.30pm and 6.00pm on Tuesday 29th April.

Hirst residents invited to drop-in sessions to discuss improvement plans 

 

Weekly drop-in sessions are to be held throughout April at Hirst Welfare in Ashington so that local people can call in to view and talk through proposals to improve the area. 

 

Two project officers employed by Northumberland County Council to work with the people of Hirst will be at the Hirst Welfare each Wednesday in April between 4 pm and 6 pm to speak to residents about the Hirst Masterplan. 

 

The Masterplan outlines a hugely ambitious and wide-ranging long-term project aimed at the regeneration of the Hirst and has been developed working alongside the people and who live and work there. It aims to build on the strengths of the Hirst in order to address the challenges in the area and make it a better place to live and visit. 

 

The Hirst estate was developed in the early 1900s to house miners and their families working at the nearby Woodhorn Colliery and contains around 3,300 homes. It was the childhood home of the footballing legends, Bobby and Jack Charlton.  

 

Gary McGuire, Hirst Communities and Programme Manager said: 

 

“We’ve already had many conversations with local people, but we want to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to be involved and kept up to date. 

 

“We’d love for local residents to come along and meet us for a friendly chat about the plans, and for them to tell us what Hirst means to them, so we can work together to improve the area.” 

 

The drop-in sessions will take place on 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 April at The Hirst Welfare Centre, 68 Alexandra Road, Ashington, NE63 9HN, 

 

If you are unable to attend the drop-in sessions and wish to make an individual appointment, you can do so by contacting gary.mcguire@northumberland.gov.uk Telephone 07561 601843  to arrange this.