Decade-long Northumberland regeneration project reaches completion

A regeneration project in Northumberland that has transformed a former colliery site has reached completion after more than a decade.

North East employer Banks Property and leading land and property regeneration company Harworth Group plc have concluded a joint venture which saw the former Bates Colliery in Blyth given a new lease of life through a series of developments.

The 30-acre project, which began in 2009, has seen the construction of the new Morpeth Road Primary Academy School, the development of specialist accommodation for people with learning disabilities operated by Lifeways and a new residential development of 142 homes created by housebuilder Gleeson Homes.

Michael Shuttleworth, managing director at Banks Property, commented: “We’ve maintained an excellent working relationship with the Harworth team right through this landmark project.

“It’s great to see how the Bates Colliery site has been transformed over the last eleven years from derelict, undesirable brownfield land into a thriving part of Blyth.

“The regenerated site makes a positive contribution to the local community in a wide range of different ways and is an excellent example of how taking a long-term view of this sort of development can lead to substantial benefits arising.”

Owen Michaelson, chief executive at Harworth Group plc, added: “I’m delighted by what’s been achieved in Blyth, which is testament to the hard work of Michael Shuttleworth and the team at Banks Property, our former North East Director Eddie Peat and Northumberland County Council.

“It also proves that long-term regeneration programmes are most successful when backed by a strong public-private partnership and we hope that what’s been developed can be used and enjoyed by local people for decades to come.”

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