Mayor unveils partnership to make ‘real difference’

A regeneration boss has announced a new initiative designed to boost growth across the North East.

North East mayor Kim McGuinness has unveiled a partnership with Homes England aimed at accelerating housing, regeneration and infrastructure projects across the region.

The agreement will see the creation of a joint Major Projects Delivery Unit – one of the first of its kind in England and the first at this scale in the North East.

Bringing together expertise from the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Homes England and local authorities, the unit will help unlock complex development sites, support major regeneration schemes and drive forward economic growth.

The partnership forms part of the mayor’s commitment to increase housebuilding, bring disused brownfield land back into use and deliver more social and affordable homes.

Under the new arrangements, the organisations will share project oversight and specialist expertise to help speed up the delivery of housing and regeneration projects across the North East.

Mayor McGuinness said: “The North East is ambitious about growth, housebuilding and regeneration, and I want to turn that ambition into delivery.

“That includes 15,000 new affordable homes in the next decade to tackle the housing crisis, and ensure a safe, secure and affordable home is within reach for everyone.

“We’re getting on with building more homes, unlocking stalled sites, and working across the region to tackle homelessness, and this new joint-approach will only help drive that further and faster.”

The partnership will also focus on accelerating development at key brownfield sites and the region’s three Mayoral Development Zones, supporting investment, job creation and wider regeneration.

Together, the measures strengthen collaboration between regional and national partners as they seek to unlock development opportunities and boost housing delivery across the North East.

Tom Bridges, executive regional director for the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber at Homes England, added: “The North East has huge potential for growth, and this enhanced partnership with the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, building on our already established Strategic Place Partnership, is exactly the kind of joined-up approach that unlocks it.

“By bringing together our expertise, resources and relationships through the new Major Projects Delivery Unit, we can move faster on the complex sites and major schemes that will make a real difference to people’s lives – more homes, more regeneration and more opportunity across the region.”

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