Member Article

Blueprint for success

A blueprint to guide Sunderland’s economic growth over the next 10 to 15 years is being discussed by city councillors. The Economic Masterplan for Sunderland would set guidelines for where and how the city can earn its living and become more prosperous in the future.

Members of Sunderland City Council’s decision-making cabinet could give the go-ahead to start the Masterplan at their meeting on Wednesday (July 30).

Newcastle and Gateshead are also developing their own Economic Masterplans.

Leader of Sunderland City Council, Cllr Paul Watson said: “Sunderland, along with the rest of the region and the country, has seen huge changes to its economy in recent years. This city needs to stay on top of its game and a Masterplan would help us make important decisions about economic priorities.”

Sunderland, for example, has a higher percentage of manufacturing jobs than other councils in Tyne and Wear, and lower unemployment rates than Newcastle or South Tyneside.

But household incomes are around 14 per cent less than the national average. The council hopes that a Masterplan will help set out where and what new economic priorities are needed to ‘close the gap’.

Cllr Watson said: “Sunderland’s local economy is far stronger and more diverse than we could have imagined a generation ago. A Masterplan would help guide important decisions on economic priorities and the balance of activities that we need to promote prosperity in Sunderland for the next generation.”

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