Northumberland County Council welcomes further £20m investment for local town

Northumberland County Council has welcomed the announcement that Blyth is set to benefit from further government investment.

The £20m funding package over ten years will help level up the town as part of the Government’s £1.1bn long term plan for 55 towns across the country. Funding will be spent on local priorities; reviving high streets, tackling ASB, improving transport and growing the local economy  

The support announced through the long-term plan for towns will add to the work already underway through the £90m Energising Blyth regeneration programme to grow, renew and connect the town.

Councillor Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, commented: “This is very welcome news for Blyth.

“Significant change is already happening to revitalise the town centre and capitalise on the huge potential of our leading clean energy sector with the new Culture Venue and Market Place and Energy Campus already being constructed, our new Welding Centre and works well underway on the Northumberland Line.

“This additional long-term investment from Government means we can go further to transform the town, deliver better homes, improve neighbourhoods and reduce crime in partnership with local businesses, the community and partners.

“We will be working with Government and partners in the town through the existing Town Deal Board to develop this new additional part of the Energising Blyth Programme. There will be further news in due course with this long term funding expected to become available from 2024 onwards.”

Alan Ferguson OBE, Chair of Blyth Town Deal Board and Owner of Ferguson’s Transport, added: “This is a real boost for Blyth helping us to deliver improvements that are much needed.

“The support will accelerate our work together to grow, renew and connect the town, crucially ensuring that local people are included in the opportunities in the town. This announcement builds on the existing major Government investment to level up Blyth alongside support from the County Council and North of Tyne Combined Authority.

“It will galvanise partnership work between the business community, public sector and community partners to deliver real change on issues that are important to the community. Blyth is already a fantastic town in so many ways and this investment will make it even better as a place to live, work and invest.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

• Add me on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up to date
• And follow Bdaily on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• Submit press releases to editor@bdaily.co.uk for consideration.