Proposals sought for Prudhoe improvements
07 May 2024
Organisations in Prudhoe are being encouraged to put forward proposals to help secure Borderlands Place Programme investment to improve the town.
Proposals are being sought which could boost economic growth for inclusion in the towns emerging Place Plan.
The Borderlands Place Programme is a ten-year £21m initiative including Borderlands and NCC funding support in seven of the county’s towns to ensure their long-term sustainability and growth, with priorities embedded in ‘Place Plans’ which are developed by local communities and stakeholders.
Other towns in Northumberland included in the programme are Rothbury, Haltwhistle, Newbiggin, Bellingham, Bedlington and Alnwick.
The County Council is organising the process to develop the Place Programme in Prudhoe working with the local ‘Place Partnership Group’ involving business, community and public sector representatives all with an interest in making the town and even better place for all.
The work of the group is based on consultation with the local community to identify the issues to be addressed in the town to boost the local economy.
Proposals will need to contribute to three investment themes identified in the emerging Place Plan for the town which are to encourage economic growth helping the town centre to be more vibrant, to grow the local economy and to promote inclusion with a key focus on young people.
Expressions of interest are now invited for potential projects within these themes that will help Prudhoe achieve its vision. This will help to identify projects that may be eligible for Borderlands funding specifically and the overall pipeline of investment to improve the town.
Any organisations with a project proposal that they feel will make a significant economic growth impact in Prudhoe can contact the team via email at growth@northumberland.gov.uk to receive the guidance and project proposal proforma.
Cabinet Member for Supporting Business and Opportunities Cllr Richard Wearmouth said: “The development of these plans is an important step for the town towards securing further investment, we are looking forward to hearing from potential project sponsors who feel they can contribute to the towns future prosperity.”
Prudhoe South Ward Member Cllr Gordon Stewart said: “Prudhoe is already a great place to live, work and invest and our work with partners in the town aims to make it even better.
“Our work to secure this funding comes on the back of ongoing investment by NCC most recently the announcements of £1.5m investment in Waterworld to improve leisure facilities, our assistance to further develop the feasibility of the proposed youth and community facility at the East Centre in partnership with the Community Partnership and Town Council and also our backing for the recent visit of the national High Streets Task Force.”
Projects should have an identified project sponsor and a value of over £300k to be considered as part of this process and will need to identify how they meet a range of economic focused funding criteria.
The funding available is capital only although revenue projects can be flagged as part of the process as part of the wider Place Plan project pipeline. The deadline for submission is June 2nd 2024.
More information about Borderlands can be found at the following links:
Northumberland Place Programme - https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/Economy-Regeneration/Programmes/Borderlands-Place-Programme/Prudhoe-Borderlands.aspx
Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal - https://www.borderlandsgrowth.com/