National Coalfields Programme expands to ten new sites
Press release from English Partnerships - 16 September 2002
Ten new sites are to be added to English Partnerships’ National Coalfields Programme, which brings major regeneration projects to former coalfield communities and spreads from North Tyneside to the Forest of Dean. The announcement was made by Jeff Rooker, Regeneration Minister, on the first day of the Coalfields Communities Campaign Conference, held at The Lowry in Salford.
He also told delegates that the National Coalfields Programme would be given greater flexibility in the way it uses its £385million funding to support the rebuilding of coalfield communities which suffered widespread economic, environmental and social deprivation following pit closures.
Jeff Rooker said: “I am delighted to announce the inclusion of these 10 new sites to our National Coalfields Programme. The regeneration of areas that have been blighted by pit closures is essential to the economy and well-being of the community.
“English Partnerships’ programme is making a real difference to the lives of coalfield communities. By bringing derelict and contaminated land back into productive use, delivering jobs, homes and quality open space, there can and will be a sustainable future for these areas.”
The National Coalfields Programme is managed by English Partnerships, the regeneration agency for England, in conjunction with Regional Development Agencies (RDAs). With the ten new sites, the Programme now encompasses some 4,000 hectares across a total of 98 former coalfield sites.
John Walker, English Partnerships’ acting Chief Executive, welcomed the news about the ten new sites: “English Partnerships’ priority is regeneration in the round, providing sustainable solutions, not just land remediation. Today’s announcement of increased flexibility will enable us to expand the Coalfields Programme in these areas, to ensure a better quality of life to the people who have been living in the shadow of pit closures for many years.”
Cllr Bill Flanagan, Chair of the Coalfield Communities Campaign, said: “The English Partnerships National Coalfields Programme is the key building block in the regeneration of our areas and it is pleasing to see another 10 sites taken on board. The job now is to keep the whole programme on track. I am sure that with the continued commitment from the government we can speed up the process of regeneration even more.”
The Programme has ambitious targets and aims to create:
- 40,000 job opportunities on former Coalfields
- 2,000,000 square metres of commercial floorspace
- 6,500 homes
- £1billion private sector investment.
Projects within the Programme include coastal reclamation, housing developments, retail and commercial centres and forests and parks. Sites are located throughout England, although the majority fall within Yorkshire, the East Midlands and the North East.
In addition to the 10 sites announced today, a further 13 sites which had been identified by the Coalfields Communities Campaign are to be monitored for possible inclusion in the National Coalfields Programme at a later date.
Euan Hall, English Partnerships’ Divisional Director, Coalfields and Joint Ventures, explained: “As the National Coalfields Programme has developed over the past five years, we have realised that simply delivering reclaimed sites is not enough.
The additional flexibility announced today will enable us to look at regeneration for the local community in its widest possible sense. In addition to providing industrial units for jobs, we will create new facilities and benefits for these communities and are actively looking to attract new partners to take forward these developments.