£3.5m Cramlington regeneration programme to get underway
11 Oct 2024
Delivery of a new £3.5m regeneration package to improve Cramlington is set to begin this year.
The County Council’s Cabinet welcomed a new report highlighting improvements to the town centre. Cycling and walking corridors, green spaces and parks and youth provision are being developed - with some projects set to start in the coming months.
It comes on the back of the ‘Cramlington Conversation’, where over 500 people fed back on improvements they would like to see across the town. This helped shape plans to improve the town through the Cramlington Regeneration Programme, with work now about to get underway.
Funded by the County Council, in partnership with Cramlington Town Council, the programme will kick start efforts to make Cramlington even better for residents, visitors and businesses in the town.
‘Conversation’ feedback showed respondents felt that gateways, green spaces, access and parking in and around Manor Walks could be improved, and that the availability of facilities for young people was a key issue.
Positive feedback about the green spaces and cycling and walking routes across the town included the need to refresh and repair parts of the network - an issue which the council will be taking action on later this year.
The Town Council is leading a number of key schemes in the programme pipeline including the development of a dementia garden and a youth zone. Start dates will be confirmed in due course.
The programme has been shaped by the Cramlington Town Forum, a partnership of the Town Council, County Council, Manor Walks Shopping Centre, Advance Northumberland, Northumbria Police and a range of public, private and community stakeholders in the town.
The report also highlights that there will be projects developed to respond to the issues about the town centre and community and sports facilities in the longer term. Investment in study work will identify options to improve access and parking, public realm and green spaces and connectivity in and out of the centre on public transport.
Further work is also being undertaken to explore how community sport and recreation facilities can be improved at the Northburn Centre in consultation with the town council and local councillors.
Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for business and opportunities for Northumberland County Council, said: “This is a positive step forward for the town centre’s redevelopment and boosting the whole town’s offer.
“Local residents told us they are really proud of their town but also suggested a number of improvements that we are now looking to take action on, working with our partners.
“This programme will be getting underway before Christmas with a range of cycling and walking improvements in the town as well as investment in projects the Town Council will deliver.”
Councillor Wayne Daley, County Councillor for Cramlington North, said; “On behalf of County Councillors in Cramlington, we are very pleased to see the commitment from the County Council to this investment package responding to what local people have told us. We're looking forward to seeing the initial projects get underway with even bigger things to come in the longer term.”
Mayor Helen Morris, Town Mayor for Cramlington Town Council said: “We’re looking forward to playing our part in improving our town, with some key projects focused on green spaces and young people set to start this year, working in partnership with the County Council and other key partners to ensure Cramlington remains a great place to live and work in.”