Multi-million pound regeneration scheme set to transform Northumberland town

Cabinet has approved the establishment of the Ashington Regeneration Programme which is set to boost the town’s economy and drive forward the implementation of the Ashington Town Investment Plan.

The Cabinet report highlights that Ashington is on the “edge of significant change” with major projects underway that will fundamentally alter the town’s purpose, vitality and investment potential.

The new programme brings together significant funding from the council, the North of Tyne Combined Authority and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund with the recently announced award from the Government of £16.4m for transformational investments at Wansbeck Square and Portland Park sites.

These capital projects are a key part of the long-term vision for the town centre, which focuses later this year on improving pedestrian movements from the new Ashington Station through the high street into Portland Park and includes creating an attractive link from Woodhorn Road to Portland Park, at ‘Grand Corner’.

The Programme will support the development of proposals for a cinema facility and public realm at Portland Park further extending the leisure offer to this part of the town centre. A design team will be appointed in summer to drive forward plans.

Plans for the redevelopment of Wansbeck Square will get underway through the Programme, with the objective of creating an attractive town centre gateway from the new railway station including high quality public realm, landscaping, space for events and activities, and potentially a new community facility.

The Programme also brings together funding of £2.4m from the North of Tyne Combined Authority’s Town Centres and High Streets Investment Fund and the government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

This grant to the council is funding the public realm improvements and saw the launch last November of targeted business support to Ashington traders and potential entrepreneurs, being delivered by Advance Northumberland.

This funding is also supporting a full programme of distinctive cultural events and activities in and around the town centre, designed and delivered by a Creative Team that will run from Autumn 2023 to March 2025. The creation of the Ashington Regeneration Programme adds to the significant investments already planned in the town.

This includes the reopening of passenger rail services to the Northumberland Line, including Ashington Station by summer 2024, and the development of a “state-of-the-art” ‘Gen Zero’ Northumberland College campus at Wansbeck Business Park, being funded by the Department for Education.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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