‘Huge’ project set to bring new life to deprived estate
BOSSES at Northumberland County Council say newly unveiled plans to revitalise one of the most deprived parts of the county are the largest regeneration project ever undertaken by the local authority.
The council unveiled the Hirst masterplan covering the estate of the same name in Ashington. Built at the start of the 20th century, the estate is mainly made up of former mining cottages and is described as being at the “heart of a strong and longestablished community”.
However, the estate now features a large number of empty homes and rising anti-social behaviour. It is also the most deprived area of Ashington and is in the top 10% most deprived areas in England. Introducing the masterplan at the latest meeting of the council’s cabinet, council leader Glen Sanderson described the project as “huge”.
He said: “This is the biggest piece of work I have ever seen as a councillor that we have entered into. All members of the cabinet are involved in this. Without their support, we would not have got to where we are today. This is a major regeneration project, the largest we have ever seen as a council.”
Deputy leader Coun Richard Wearmouth outlined some of the issues facing the Hirst estate.
He said: “This is something that no previous council in Northumberland has grappled with, which is what to do about the Hirst and how to make it the best place for residents of that community now and in the future.
“It is a significant piece of work and for that reason it is going to take a significant amount of time.
“There are complicated issues to deal with including having the finances in place and making sure residents are really on board.
“The Hirst is reflective of its heritage with rows and rows of miners homes. The properties are all the same and don’t necessarily match what people require from modernday life.”
Coun Wearmouth added that an early phase of the project would likely see the development of the former Coulson School site. It is hoped that doing so would enable more homes to be refurbished or redeveloped as part of phase 2.
The masterplan outlines the importance of protecting existing residents from “widening inequalities” by “ensuring housing is affordable and accessible” to them.
Coun Colin Horncastle, the council’s cabinet member for housing, added: “The problems have been there for many, many years – it’s one of those things that has been too hard to tackle.
“Previous administrations along with the district council have not really got involved to the extent we have.
“This is without doubt the biggest regeneration project I have seen this council undertake – that’s why it is going to take 15 years to do.
“This is about the people who live there, we have a duty to provide modern, energy efficient homes.”
Speaking after the meeting, Labour’s Coun Caroline Ball, who represents the Ashington Central ward that includes part of the Hirst area, welcomed the investment.
However, she expressed concern about the source of funding for the regeneration.
Coun Ball said: “I welcome any investment into Ashington, everybody does but it needs to be the right investment. The promised money is going up with every press release, yet we are still waiting for something to start happening.”