Newcastle Labour is launching a major programme of investment to help revitalise high streets across the city’s East End, with residents, businesses and community organisations being invited to help shape the improvements.
Just under £2 million is being invested through the Newcastle East – Inclusive, Healthy, Vibrant High Streets programme, focusing on Chillingham Road, Heaton Road, Heaton Park Road, Shields Road and part of Welbeck Road.
The two-year programme, being taken forward by Newcastle’s Labour-led council, is funded through the North of Tyne Combined Authority’s Town and High Street Innovation Programme.
The investment will support work to bring empty properties back into use, help local traders to grow, improve public spaces and connectivity and make local shopping areas greener and more attractive.
The programme is expected to benefit around 130 businesses and voluntary and community organisations, create or improve 18 shared spaces, bring nine vacant properties back into use and support around 40 jobs.
The first phase will put local residents and businesses at the heart of developing the plans, asking people what improvements they want to see, which businesses and services their neighbourhoods need and how walking and cycling connections can be improved.
Labour also wants the programme to provide a long-term plan for investment in the East End and develop an approach that could subsequently be used to support other neighbourhood high streets across Newcastle.
Cllr Alex Hay, Cabinet Member for a Resilient City, said: “Local high streets are the heart of our communities, and when they thrive, our communities thrive.
“We’re delighted that we have this investment which will focus on revitalising local neighbourhoods in the East End, improving the lives of people who live and work there.
“What is really exciting about this project is that it will be shaped by local people for local people, telling us what they want to see in their local high streets.”