Category: Funding Schemes

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Getting Building Fund support to bring investment to region’s offshore wind sector

A £4 million investment by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership in the Port of Tyne’s Tyne Dock Enterprise Park has strengthened the region’s position as a major offshore wind hub. The £4 million funding from the Getting Building Fund is in addition to the £2.1 million invested the Port of Tyne in the site.

Awarded through the Government’s Getting Building Fund, the grant funding has delivered major improvement to the site’s quayside, including quay strengthening, allowing multiple offshore wind vessels to berth alongside Tyne Dock Enterprise Park. It has also funded the creation of a new access road, linking Tyne Dock Enterprise Park to the Port of Tyne, and modern services to site.

The 7.1 hectares site, which has 550 metres of direct riverside frontage, is home to the newly opened Port of Tyne Operations and Maintenance base for Equinor, a hub for operations for the world’s largest offshore wind farm at Dogger Bank.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Tyne Dock Enterprise Park is playing a leading role in helping the North East attract investment and high quality employment in the offshore energy sector. It is also supporting the region’s drive to deliver net zero.  

“As a strategic site for Dogger Bank, it provides a unique investment opportunity in the region; one that will bring significant growth to the North East’s advanced manufacturing and engineering sectors.

“Tyne Dock Enterprise Park will create hundreds of new jobs in South Tyneside as businesses move onto the site, as well supporting job creation across the region’s wider supply chain too.”

As an Enterprise Zone, Tyne Dock benefits from incentives designed to help businesses grow. The 21 Enterprise Zone sites that make up the wider North East Enterprise Zone programme were selected because of the opportunity they provide to attract investment from key sectors; supporting the aims of the North East Strategic Economic Plan to deliver 100,000 more and better jobs and create a more productive, competitive, resilient and inclusive North East economy.

Matt Beeton, Chief Executive of the Port of Tyne, said: “The modernisation of Tyne Dock – and the creation of Tyne Renewables Quay –provides a major wind hub to support the region’s role in the green industrial revolution taking place in the North Sea. Tyne Dock sits at the centre of a growing clean energy cluster that is supporting businesses build out and maintain the country’s major offshore wind farm development areas at Dogger Bank and Sofia.”

Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “South Tyneside is at the forefront of the UK’s offshore renewables industry and this investment will strengthen the Port’s operations, ensuring we can continue to innovate and drive forward growth at both regional and national level.

“Tyne Dock Enterprise is a key strategic site, housing world-class facilities like the Dogger Bank Operations and Maintenance Base, and presents a fantastic opportunity to boost job creation and bolster UK energy security.”

The Getting Building Fund was established early in the coronavirus pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the pandemic. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership is managing £47 million awarded through the Getting Building Fund to support capital investment across the North East. 

For more information about Tyne Dock Enterprise Park, visit www.portoftyne.co.uk.

For more information about the Getting Building Fund in the North East LEP area, click here. 

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New £35million commercial property fund supports developers in the North East

Commercial property development across the North East is set to increase thanks to a new £35million fund launched today.

The North East Commercial Property Investment Fund is managed by FW Capital and backed by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP). The fund addresses a gap in the market and will drive economic growth and create new jobs in the North East LEP area.

Providing loans of up to £7 million the fund can support speculative developments for new or refurbished commercial projects. This includes industrial units, distribution facilities or office schemes located in the seven authority areas: Northumberland, County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland. Repayments will be reinvested in new schemes, creating a total investment of £119 million into commercial property in 15 years. It aims to create 5,600 jobs and develop 140,000 sq m of commercial space.

FW Capital North East Fund Director, Joanne Whitfield said: “We are delighted to work with the North East LEP to launch the North East Commercial Property Investment Fund which will support a wide range of commercial property operators.

“Developers often find it difficult to access the finance they need to bring forward projects, particularly if there are no pre-lets in place. The new fund supports speculative developments to help overcome these challenges and answers a critical need to improve the quality of the real estate stock in our region. The cost/value/risk equation continues to inhibit activity at a time when the pace of change is accelerating. We believe the new fund can play a central role in solving this problem and help our region compete for inward investment nationally and internationally.”

Helen Golightly, OBE, Chief Executive at the North East LEP added: “Job creation and the growth of key sectors in the North East are being held back by the market not delivering sufficient high-quality business premises.  There is a severe undersupply of Grade A commercial space which is limiting some types of inward investment or current regional businesses to scale to the next level.

“The North East Commercial Property Investment Fund will finance property and regeneration projects throughout the North East LEP area in line with the North East Strategic Economic Plan objectives. It backs high-quality developments and supports developers to build commercial properties needed to secure business investment in the region.”

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New Getting Building Fund supported development set to boost jobs in North Tyneside

MORE jobs are set to be created after the completion of a new industrial development in North Tyneside.

Commercial property and investment company UK Land Estates has finished construction of a new £4.5m building at its Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate.

The speculative development was partly funded with a £731,818 grant from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) via the Government-backed Getting Building Fund.

The North East LEP is managing £47m awarded through the Getting Building Fund to support capital investment across the North East. The Fund was established during the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the pandemic.

The new building offers a total of 48,666 sq ft high quality industrial space for a range of occupiers and has an ‘A’-rated Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with an array of photovoltaic (PV) panels on the roof providing free green energy for occupiers. 

Demand is high for the development, known as L6 and situated on the Intersect 19 area of the Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate, with the unit already under offer from a potential tenant.

As well as having space for up to 125 full-time staff, L6 also supported jobs in the region’s construction sector during its build phase.

Tim Witty, development director at UK Land Estates, said: “We are delighted to have completed this important new building for businesses in the North East.

“As we have already seen in the response to L6’s completion, there is a lot of demand for this kind of accommodation from a wide range of different companies.

“However, carrying out speculative development in the current economic climate can be challenging so we were very grateful to the North East Local Enterprise Partnership for providing grant funding towards this project via the Getting Building Fund.

“The additional capital ensured we could get on with the build earlier than would otherwise have been possible, ensuring we could meet demand for high quality industrial space quicker.”

Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Despite recent economic shocks that have led to a cautious outlook for businesses, many are continuing to invest in their futures and sew the seeds for growth.

“Interest in commercial property across the North East has remained high, and the completed L6 industrial space on Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate is another example of how our region is delivering the infrastructure to support business growth, create more and better jobs, and strengthen the economy.

“This development is one of 20 projects across the North East LEP area to receive investment from the Getting Building Fund; ensuring key, strategic capital investments could continue during the pandemic and support our region’s economic recovery.”

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North East LEP funding supports transformation of Gilbridge Police Station

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership (North East LEP) has invested almost £850,000 from government’s Getting Building Fund to support the transformation of the former Gilbridge Police Station into brand new, multi-use office accommodation in the heart of Sunderland city centre.

Renamed The Yard, the new building will provide high quality workspace for SMEs looking to grow their businesses in Sunderland, and attract companies back into the city centre, helping creating a thriving community of local businesses.

The Yard is one of 20 projects across the North East LEP area to receive investment from the Getting Building Fund. In total, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership is managing £47m awarded through government’s Getting Building Fund to support capital investment across the region. 

Helen Golightly OBE, chief executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Despite a very challenging environment for businesses in the North East, we’re still seeing demand for high quality office accommodation in the region.

“Encouragingly, many businesses are looking to move back into our city centres, which is helping reinvigorate and reenergise these traditional business hubs after the pandemic.

“The Yard, along with the wider Riverside Sunderland development, is transforming Sunderland city centre and bringing investment into the wider region.”

Developer Hanro Group is leading the transformation of Gilbridge Police Station. When complete, the building will provide office accommodation – ranging from 500 sq ft to 23,000 sq ft – a business lounge, meeting rooms, cycle storage, EV charging, showers, natural ventilation, external ‘green’ space, and an area for outdoor events.

Laura Lloyd, Head of Portfolio at The Hanro Group, said: ”We are delighted that the North East LEP are supporting the creation of flexible, affordable office accommodation in Sunderland city centre through Hanro’s development of The Yard.”

The Yard is part of the Riverside Sunderland development led by Sunderland City Council. The city centre office building will complement additional commercial spaces that are being developed in the area, including Legal and General-backed Maker and Faber.

Riverside Sunderland will create a new central business district (CBD) in the city. When fully developed, the CBD will provide more than one million square feet of high quality office space, tailored to the needs of leading UK and international businesses. It will provide accommodation for 8,000 – 10,000 jobs, generating footfall and expenditure across the city centre.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We’re thrilled to see work progressing at pace on The Yard, which will be a fantastic addition to the city.

“We have seen the success of similar developments in the city over recent years, with more and more businesses attracted to our transforming city centre, and we look forward to seeing The Yard open its doors and welcome more businesses and business-people to Sunderland.”

The Getting Building Fund was established early in the coronavirus pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the coronavirus pandemic.

For more information about The Yard (formally Gilbridge Police Station), contact Bradley Hall on 0191 563 4242 or Sunderland BID on 0191 722 1002.

For more information about the Riverside Sunderland development, visit www.riversidesunderland.com.

For more information about the Getting Building Fund visit www.northeastlep.co.uk.

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Getting Building Fund supports creation of new industrial workspaces in County Durham

Eight new industrial workspace units are being created on the Hownsgill Industrial Park in Consett following investment from government’s Getting Building Fund.

When complete, the new modern employment sites at Bessemer Court are expected to create up to 100 jobs as new businesses move on to the site.

Built on the grounds of the former Consett Steelworks, Bessemer Court is already home to four fully let units. The expansion of the industrial park aims to support the creation of more SME businesses in the area, help existing SMEs to grow, and increase jobs and employment opportunities for local people.

Mike Clark, Director of Project Genesis Ltd (PGL) – the development company managing the regeneration of the former steelworks site on behalf of the Genesis Trust – said: “The ongoing redevelopment of Hownsgill Industrial Park is helping to bring new investment into Consett, create new jobs in growing sectors in the North East, and create opportunities for existing businesses in the area to expand, sustaining and growing the local economy.

“There is strong demand for new high-spec industrial units in County Durham and we expect Bessemer Court to provide a boost to the local economy as more businesses arrive on site.”

£448,000 from government’s Getting Building Fund was awarded to Project Genesis Ltd to enable essential infrastructure and remediable works to be carried out before construction of the eight new industrial workspaces could begin.

The Getting Building Fund was established early in the coronavirus pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership is managing £47m awarded through the Getting Building Fund to support capital investment across the North East.  

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “Despite wider economic challenges, we are seeing continued demand for smaller workspaces that provide the right environment for growth.

“The targeted investment from the Getting Building Fund Commercial Property Pilot scheme has helped with the construction of the new industrial units here at Bessemer Court and across the region following the coronavirus pandemic, meaning the North East is now well placed to meet the needs of businesses and support future job creation.”

Hownsgill Industrial Park has been identified as a strategic employment site and key to the continued economic growth of Consett and County Durham.

When complete, the new units at Bessemer Court are expected to create 100 new jobs and support around eight apprenticeships and training opportunities. Follow-on PGL and other private sector investment is expected to reach £1.9m.

For more information about Bessemer Court on Hownsgill Industrial Park visit youngsrps.com.

For more information about the Getting Building Fund and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, visit www.northeastlep.co.uk.

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Getting Building Fund support sees expansion of AirView Park Enterprise Zone

Two new state-of-the-art flexible workspace buildings are currently being built on the AirView Park development in Woolsington following a £944k investment from government’s Getting Building Fund.

Strategically located next to Newcastle International Airport, AirView Park aims to grow the number of businesses in the North East involved in international trade and attract inward investment from startups and SMEs keen to take advantage of the region’s global trade links.

When complete, the two workspaces that form part of Phase Two of the development will have the potential to support up to 100 new SMEs and provide the flexibility for businesses to expand and grow, creating more local jobs and providing a boost to the North East economy.

The £944k awarded to developer Tynexe Commercial Ltd from the Getting Building Fund ensured essential infrastructure works could be delivered during the coronavirus pandemic and construction of the new employment sites could continue.

Helen Golightly OBE, Chief Executive of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “By responding to the changes brought about by the pandemic and creating office space that meets the needs of businesses both now and in the future, the new developments at AirView Park have already generated a lot of interest.

“By focusing Getting Building Fund investment on key strategic sites like AirView Park, the North East LEP is helping to create the right environment for businesses to grow and create more and better jobs in the region.

“The development’s location next to Newcastle International Airport also supports the North East LEP’s ambition to increase the number of North East businesses that export goods and services from 6% to 9.5% by 2030.”

One of 21 Enterprise Zones sites across the North East, AirView Park aims to create more SME businesses focussed on growing and maximising trade and inward investment between North East England and the rest of the world. It also aims to attract UK or global companies looking to build or establish a strategic northern base, as well as fully support organisations wishing to take advantage of new and existing export routes.

The North East Trade and Export strategy – published in 2021 by the North East LEP, North East England Chamber of Commerce and Department for International Trade – showed approximately 4,500 businesses in the North East region (North East LEP and Tees Valley Combined Authority areas) currently export goods and services. Businesses in the North East LEP area that currently export goods and services typically generate over £15bn of revenue from exporting each year.

One of the new buildings will provide a dedicated Business Support Hub for North East SMEs, offering a physical service centre for export expansion. All key exporting services and resources will be co-located at the Hub, creating a launch pad for businesses to begin international trade.

The second building, Denyer Court, will offer multiple leased office units or a single occupancy HQ building.

Mike Clark, Director of Tynexe Commercial Limited, developers of AirView Park, added, “We are delighted to have the full support and backing of the North East LEP as the allocated grant funding has enabled us to progress the site at pace, delivering a high quality scheme to meet market demands at a time when needed.

“We are already receiving enquiries from potential new occupiers, some operating in emerging and fast growing industries, so we are very confident that Phase Two and AirView Park will become a key site for Newcastle and the wider North East economy.”  

Mark Hunt, Chief Financial Officer at Newcastle International Airport, said: “The Airport provides multiple daily connections to some of the largest airport hubs across Europe and the Middle East, seamlessly connecting businesses in the region to the rest of the world. AirView Park is a prime site that provides a lot of opportunity for growth, export links and inward investment. We are very much looking forward to the completion of the scheme and welcoming the companies that choose to locate there.

“Global trade relations are key to the continued growth of the North East, and as we begin to see a way out of the economic downturn, our export links with countries like Pakistan are very important. Collaborations and strategic partnerships linking local companies with those overseas can help deliver a stronger recovery and so Newcastle International Airport, as a gateway to international markets, very much supports discussions like this with potential trade partners.”

Newcastle City Council’s Cabinet member for Resilient City, Cllr Alex Hay, who has responsibility for jobs and the economy, said: “AirView Park is going to be an important generator of jobs being so close to Newcastle International Airport – the main gateway to the region.

“The construction of these two buildings will form a key part of that development and provide a further boost to the local economy once they are filled with small to medium-sized businesses, so I warmly welcome them.”

When complete, AirView Park will offer 175,000 sq ft of bespoke offices, tailor-made to suit businesses looking to relocate to more cost effective out of town premises. AirView Park is already home to the national headquarters of Bellway Homes plc.

The Getting Building Fund was established early in the coronavirus pandemic to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas realise growth opportunities coming out of the coronavirus pandemic. The North East Local Enterprise Partnership is managing £47m awarded through the Getting Building Fund to support capital investment across the North East. 

The two new state-of-the-art flexible workspace buildings supported by the Getting Building Fund are due to be completed by the end of the year.

For more information about AirView Park visit www.airviewpark.co.uk.

Find out more about the Getting Building Fund and the other funding programmes managed by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.

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North East LEP investment aims to grow region’s battery sector

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership has awarded more than £90k through its Project Development Accelerator Fund to expand the work of a new partnership aimed at growing the North East’s battery sector.

The North East Battery Alliance (NEBA), which is led by Newcastle University, aims to build on the North East’s existing strengths in electrification, automotive, and advanced manufacturing to raise awareness of the North East as a leading hub for the battery industry and attract further inward investment.

NEBA will create an ecosystem in the region that includes research and innovation centres, education and skills organisations, the public sector, battery cell manufacturers, and the associated supply chain, to stimulate further growth in the sector.

The North East’s reputation as a burgeoning centre of battery research, innovation, skills and production led to the Faraday Institution opening a regional office in Newcastle upon Tyne (FINE – Faraday Institution North East) in 2021.

NEBA was created in response to the ongoing expansion of the North East’s battery sector, which will include Britishvolt’s lithium-ion gigaplant facility in Northumberland, and Envision-AESC’s gigafactory on the International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) in Sunderland / South Tyneside.

The North East’s five universities (Durham, Newcastle, Northumbria, Sunderland and Teesside) are collaborating to form work groups reviewing all aspects of battery production – from raw materials to recycling, to strengthen the region’s research offering in this space.

Professor Colin Herron CBE from NEBA, Newcastle University and the Faraday Institution North East (FINE), said: “The creation of a North East Battery Alliance is another important step in making North East England an internationally recognised centre for batteries, from mining to recycling, business support, research and skills. This announcement builds upon the recent decision of the Faraday Institution to locate its first regional office in Newcastle University. All the region’s universities together with CPI and the battery industry have a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a truly transformational activity for the region, supported by the North East LEP.”

Andrew Moffat CBE, Chair of the Investment Board at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The UK has a legally binding target to reach net zero emissions by 2050. Expanding green and sustainable sources of energy is a key part of government’s net zero strategy.

“The North East is one of the leading destinations in the world for advancements in clean energy, and because of this our region has a significant role to play in delivering the UK’s net zero target.

“The NEBA will support the creation of more green jobs in the region and attract further investment in our energy sector. It will help build regional capacity and capability in every stage of the battery making process, from technological research right through to manufacturing supply chains.”

The initial funding awarded from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership will be used to design and develop plans for a dedicated NEBA office in the region, which will lead to the creation of new cutting-edge battery research facilities in the North East.

NEBA is a collaborative partnership comprising the deep tech innovation organisation the Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), Northumbria University, Durham University, Teesside University and Sunderland University. It also plans to establish links with other regional and national universities; training providers; The Catapult Network; the Faraday Institution; Driving the Electric Revolution; Innovate UK; UK Research and Innovation; and regional bodies such as the North East Automotive Alliance.

Tony Jackson, Director of Formulation at CPI said; ‘’We’re excited to be supporting the UK battery ecosystem to improve battery sustainability, performance, and longevity from optimising raw materials, to supporting reuse and recyclability. Using our high-tech facilities and research expertise we can identify healthier, more sustainable chemicals and higher-performing formulations to boost battery efficiency and reduce the impact on the environment. This funding for the North East Battery Alliance will position the North East a leader in green battery technology and bring the UK one step closer to critical net zero targets.’’

Professor Pam Thomas, CEO, Faraday Institution, said: “This is another positive move to further integrate the region’s battery ecosystem to clear the path from the research bench to innovation and commercial manufacture so that the UK can prosper in this energy transformation.”

Read more about the North East’s Energy for Growth strategy.

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Understanding the impact of the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programmes on the North East economy

By Ray Browning, Programme Manager at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership

Central to the delivery of the North East Strategic Economic Plan is the region’s access to infrastructure funding, and importantly, how that funding is managed and invested across the region to create more and better jobs.

The Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programmes represent two of the biggest funding schemes managed by the North East LEP. Since 2014, more than £270m has been invested through the Local Growth Fund and £69m through the Enterprise Zone programme.

To help us understand how effective both programmes have been in delivering their objectives, and those set out in the North East Strategic Economic Plan, we appointed Steer Economic Development (Steer-ED) to carry out an interim evaluation of both the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programme.

The resulting report highlights how two of the North East LEP’s biggest capital programmes are making a visible difference to key development zones  across the region, and how they are improving the economic prospects of the North East.

The interim evaluation demonstrates how both programmes’ alignment with the Strategic Economic Plan, and its areas of strategic importance –  Health & Life Sciences, Digital, Advanced Manufacturing and Energy & Low Carbon – have helped strengthen key employment sites across the region and attract significant public and private sector investment.

A good example of this is the performance of NETPark in County Durham, which received £25.2m from the Local Growth Fund. The investment helped create two new national research centres (CPI’s National Formulation Centre and National Healthcare Photonics Centre), the NETPark Explorer lab/office buildings, business incubation space, and opened up 26 acres of developable land through the creation of a 1km new highway, Rosalind Franklin Way.

Investment by the Local Growth Fund has helped Durham County Council and its partners firmly establish NETPark as one of the UK’s leading science, engineering and technology parks. It has also positioned the North East as one of the UK’s leading health and life science clusters, a key objective of the Strategic Economic Plan.

Another area of strategic importance that has seen significant growth due to investment from the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zones programme is in advanced manufacturing. No more so than on the 150ha International Advanced Manufacturing Park (IAMP) that has been taking shape since 2018, in a partnership development between Sunderland City Council and South Tyneside Council.

This nationally important employment site is supporting the region’s expanding advanced manufacturing and automotive sector, and is receiving  £41m from the Local Growth Fund and £33m from the Enterprise Zone programme. Phase 1 has so far attracted three major manufacturing investments by SNOP UK, Faltec Europe Ltd, and most recently, Envision AESC, which will build a £450m Gigafactory on IAMP as part of a £1bn partnership with Nissan UK to create an electric vehicle hub in the North East.

As well as looking in-depth at some of the projects funded by the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programmes, Steer-ED’s interim evaluation also highlights some of the more qualitative, strategic added value impacts of the programmes in the North East LEP area, including, driving the low carbon agenda and supporting community impact.

The North East has gained a reputation as one of the UK’s leading destinations for advancements in green, sustainable, low carbon energy. Investment from the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programmes in schemes like the District Energy Centre at Newcastle Helix and Northumberland Energy Park have been central to growing the sector and attracting business investment.

Similarly, both programmes have supported projects that deliver huge benefits to local communities in the North East. The iconic Beacon of Light in Sunderland, the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle (home to the Newcastle Eagles), and the Nexus Learning Centre in South Shields are all great examples of projects that help deliver real benefits to their local communities; be that through training, apprenticeships, Further Education, or access to employment.

To date, the Local Growth Fund programme is ahead of its original target of 4,752 jobs by March 2021, having helped attract 6,300 jobs – 33% above forecast by this stage. Whilst the programme is ahead of schedule on job creation, we recognise there is still work to do to meet our 18,500 jobs target by 2025/26.

The Enterprise Zone infrastructure investment programme continues to be being rolled out across 21 sites in the North East, with 1,805 jobs secured so far against a long-term target of 26,935. The investment decisions in 2021 by Equinor to locate its Dogger Bank Wind Farm Operations and Maintenance base at Tyne Dock, and JDR Cables Ltd announcement that it is to develop a £130m manufacturing facility on Northumberland Enterprise Park, are welcome commitments that give confidence to our belief that employment levels will begin to accelerate across several EZ sites over the next two-three years.

Overall, Steer-ED’s analysis of both the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programmes has positively assessed the long-term cost/benefit value, as well as the transformative impacts of both programmes through specific local case studies.

Enabling works on major employment sites, new office, laboratory, R&D facilities and industrial space, supported by investments to improve access to strategic transport corridors are benefitting local SMEs and attracting major private sector investment. At the same time new training facilities facilities are supporting local communities to acquire the necessary skills to secure employment in growth sectors.

It’s encouraging to see the impact both programmes are already having on the physical transformation and realisation of new regional economic clusters, in line with the aspirations set out in the North East Strategic Economic Plan to create more and better jobs in specific sectors.

The executive summary of the interim evaluation of the Local Growth Fund and Enterprise Zone programmes, and details of all the projects supported, can be found on the North East LEP’s Evidence Hub.

A copy of the full interim evaluation is available upon request. Please email [email protected].

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Getting Building Fund support for new ‘green’ multi-storey car park on NewcastleGateshead Quays

A new multi-storey car park being built on the NewcastleGateshead Quays site in Gateshead is likely to be the most carbon-neutral car park in the region.

The 10-storey, 1,000 space car park – which is supported by funding from government’s Getting Building Fund – will have charging points for up to 50 electric cars but will be built with the infrastructure already in place to allow an additional 250 EV charging points to be retrofitted as demand increases.

Virtually all of the building’s energy needs will come from renewable sources generated within a stone’s throw of the site, with some electricity generated by the building itself using a series of photo-voltaic cells installed on the roof.

Additional electricity will be supplied by the nearby Council-owned District Energy Centre, which will shortly begin receiving power from a planned 2 mW solar farm to be built on land adjacent to the car park.

Andrew Moffat CBE, Chair of the Investment Board at the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The North East is committed to creating a greener economy, and supporting businesses in all sectors to drive forward decarbonisation.

“The new multi-storey car park on NewcastleGateshead Quays is just one of the clean energy projects we’re supporting through the Getting Building Fund and Local Growth Fund. The region’s ongoing investment in green, sustainable energy has helped position the North East as one of the leading destinations in the world for advancements in areas like offshore wind and electrification.

“The UK government has set a target to reach net zero by 2050, and our region is ready to play a significant role in reaching that milestone.”

In addition to the multi-storey car park at NewcastleGateshead Quays, the North East LEP has also invested £600k from the Local Growth Fund to identify and create seven new electric vehicle charging points across the LEP area – including one in Gateshead. The investment reflects the need to roll out EV infrastructure across the North East, build back greener from the coronavirus pandemic, and support government’s green industrial revolution.

The NewcastleGateshead Quays car park will be linked directly to the A184 Felling bypass via a new road running through Baltic Quarter. The plans include a new Green Blue corridor, containing landscaped walking and cycling routes, and the provision of habitats that encourage biodiversity.

Wilmott Dixon has been awarded the contract to build the ‘green’ car park as part of the £260m arena-led regeneration scheme.

NewcastleGateshead Quays was awarded £7m from government’s Getting Building Fund to support the creation of the new events destination and link road.

Andrew continued: “The Getting Building Fund was created to provide investment to shovel-ready infrastructure projects across the country that will help boost regional economic growth, fuel local recovery and create jobs.

“NewcastleGateshead Quays is a hugely significant project not just for Gateshead, but the North East LEP region as a whole. The regeneration scheme is expected to create around 2,000 new jobs in the North East and provide a £60m annual boost to our local economy.”

The North East LEP area was awarded £47m through the Getting Building Fund, with the North East Local Enterprise Partnership increasing the fund to £55m by releasing an additional £8m from the North East Investment Fund.

The projects put forward for the North East LEP area are expected to create more than 4,000 construction and permanent jobs; unlock more than 19,000 sqm of commercial space; assist more than 3,000 learners; improve or construct 4.2km of roads, cycle lanes and walkways; and further strengthen the North East’s green energy sector.

The government’s £900m Getting Building Fund was announced in August 2020 as part of its package of support to kick-start the economy, create jobs and help areas facing the biggest economic challenges as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

For more information about the Getting Building Fund, visit www.gov.uk.

For more information about the North East LEP, visit www.northeastlep.co.uk.