Member Article

Environment benefits from major investment in Blyth

Plans to improve an area to the north of Blyth Town Centre are set to bring new investment and build on Blyth’s reputation as a centre for energy research. The area to the north of Blyth Town Centre, predominantly owned by One NorthEast and occupied by the New and Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC), has been recognised as an important element in the overall regeneration of Blyth.

Over the next year a Steering Group led by the South East Northumberland and North Tyneside Regeneration initiative (SENNTRi) will work with consultants and landscape architects to design and deliver a range of improvements to improve the image of the area. Work on the first phase is expected to start in February 2008.

Former Blyth resident Jonathan Rodger, a SENNTRi Board member, said: “Having spent my youth in Blyth, I’ve always felt a close affinity with the area and it’s very encouraging to see all the improvements that are gradually being made. “There’s already a lot of regeneration happening in the town centre and quayside, and this area to the north is equally important because it hosts NaREC which is a centre of excellence in new and renewable energy.”

Recent development in this area has seen Californian energy giant Clipper Windpower locate its research and development operations to the Charles Parson Laboratory in order to develop a new generation of offshore wind turbines in North East England, bringing with it 25 skilled engineering jobs.

Paul Mclean, BioEnergy Manager at NaREC emphasised the importance of this area: “These proposed environmental improvements are essential if we’re going to continue to build on Blyth’s reputation as a centre for renewable energy technology, and encourage further development and investment.”

Developments form part of the wider plans for Blyth which include up to £19.8 million of investment over the next 3 years. Funding for the project has been provided by NSP from the Regional Development Agency One NorthEast.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .