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Issue Date: 2 March 2007
Report praises housing market renewal in NewcastleGateshead
Bridging NewcastleGateshead (BNG) has welcomed a report which has revealed the positive impact it is having in improving housing markets and increasing population levels in parts of NewcastleGateshead.
The first National Evaluation of the HMR Pathfinder Programme, which has been published by Communities and Local Government, outlines the progress and successes of the nine housing market renewal pathfinders to date.
In NewcastleGateshead, Bridging NewcastleGateshead has made ‘considerable progress’ since it was established in 2002. In particular, BNG’s achievements include:
•The review of BNG’s objectives, the quality of its housing market intelligence and its governance are key strengths of BNG;
•BNG has worked to develop strategic alignment with wider policy frameworks;
•BNG is taking the lead on establishing cross-partnership structures which will mean work can be carried out together;
• The BNG programme is supported by motivated and dynamic project officers.
One aspect of BNG’s work singled out for praise is engagement with residents. Resident involvement activity, such as through neighbourhood planning exercises, an enquiry by design and work with local school children are also highlighted.
Anne Mulroy, BNG’s Director, commented:
“This report reinforces the fact that housing market renewal pathfinders, and in this area BNG, are making a real difference to their communities. Through working with our partners to deliver a targeted programme of investment, we are bringing positive and sustained change to communities in NewcastleGateshead.
“It is particularly pleasing that the report has highlighted the progress we have made. Our research and intelligence, our engagement with communities, our governance structures and our approach to partnership working are all areas in which we are particularly strong.”
The report is based on early findings from the HMR programme, and Anne Mulroy was keen to emphasise that the BNG programme is evolving all the time:
“Since this research was carried out, we have already made even further progress, such as forming closer links with the Local Strategic Partnerships and carrying out extensive BME consultation.
“Whilst we have made excellent progress in improving BNG communities, there is still much to do and we will continue to build on these strong foundations to transform communities that have seen housing market decline.”