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Greener future for the Tyne

A NEW STRATEGY by North Tyneside Council is expected to see the region’s largest regeneration project attract an influx of business from the green technology sector.

With ‘ambitious’ timescales afoot to develop wind farms to meet future energy needs for the UK, demand for the River Tyne’s north bank is set to rocket as potential investors flock to the region to drum up green business.

A Strategic Development Framework Plan has been now completed, and will be presented to the cabinet on July 12, outlining plans to bring in new investments and supporting existing employers to improve the area over the next 20 years.

The council’s head of investment and regeneration, Trevor Robertson, said: “The new coalition government’s confirmation of support for the latest phase of offshore wind farms to be developed in the North Sea offers significant opportunities for the North Bank of the Tyne area.

“A study into the market demand for the River Tyne North bank sites had identified significant opportunities to attract new businesses from the renewable energy and subsea technology sectors.

“The increasing emphasis on reducing the impact of climate change using low carbon technologies is likely to see an increasing demand for these products which the North Bank area can support.”

Meanwhile, the Elected Mayor of North Tyneside said the North Bank of the Tyne project is one of the largest and most significant regeneration projects in the country.

Linda Arkley said: “It is an exciting project that is at the forefront in meeting the demands of the renewable energy and subsea technology sectors, but also offers tremendous opportunities for the regeneration of Wallsend and delivering new investment and employment for the region.

“The completion of the Strategic Development Framework Plan is a clear sign to potential investors that we are open for business and as a partnership are willing to work with them.”

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