Forced sale of land for riverside revival

Jul 9 2008 by Graeme Whitfield, The Journal

COMPULSORY purchase powers may be used to smooth the path for one of the biggest regeneration projects in the UK.

The regeneration of the River Tyne North Bank is a joint initiative between North Tyneside Council, One NorthEast and Newcastle City Council.

About 1,500 acres is involved, with much of the land in North Tyneside.

North Tyneside Council’s Cabinet will be asked on Monday to agree to the use of compulsory purchase orders to ensure the successful delivery of the regeneration project.

Martin Swales, North Tyneside Council’s strategic director for development, said: “As a council we are determined to deliver a strong, economic future for the north bank of the Tyne.

“We are confident this can be built around the sub-sea and marine-related industries and are working with Newcastle City Council and One NorthEast to achieve that.

“The River Tyne North Bank Project Board has already agreed this proposal. It accepted that it may be necessary to consider compulsory purchase orders to ensure we can deliver on what is one of the largest economic regeneration opportunities in the UK.”

The project began in response to problems encountered by Swan Hunter in completing a Ministry of Defence contract in 2006, and the lack of further work for the company resulted in significant job losses.

This followed the closure of the nearby Amec site, and other similar marine-related sites.

The leadership group has already received the findings of a scoping study undertaken by White Young Green in December 2006.

The report concluded that there was significant potential for future marine-led employment and that existing world-leading sub-sea sector companies located in the area are currently constrained by the lack of available land for expansion, infrastructure and skilled labour.

It identified that marine-led investment could not deliver a sustainable future without training, education and other employment uses being considered to support businesses on the North Bank of the Tyne.

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