Delivery of a new £3.5m regeneration package to improve Cramlington is underway – with the town’s cycleways and footpaths the first to benefit.
The County Council’s Cabinet agreed the first tranche of £300,000 funding to resurface and improve many of the walking and cycling routes in the town.
Resurfacing works to a number of routes have already been completed. Up next the walking routes from the town centre to Cramlington Learning Village and to the railway station are being developed with priority improvements to make these routes better set to begin in the New Year.
Further improvements to green spaces, parks and youth facilities are being developed - with more news to come on projects set to start in the coming months with further improvements being planned for delivery over the next two years.
Funded by the County Council, the Cramlington Regeneration Programme will kick start efforts to make the town even better for residents, visitors and businesses in the town. It comes on the back of the ‘Cramlington Conversation’, where over 500 people fed back on improvements they would like to see across the town.
Respondents felt that gateways, green spaces, access and parking particularly in and around Manor Walks could be improved, and that the availability of facilities for young people was a key issue. All issues the programme is looking to make a positive impact on.
The programme has been shaped in partnership with the Cramlington Town Forum. The Forum is a partnership of Cramlington Town Council, County Council, Manor Walks Shopping Centre, Advance Northumberland, Northumbria Police and a range of public, private and community stakeholders in the town.
During 2025, there will be projects developed to respond to the issues about the town centre. This includes looking at options to improve access and parking, public realm and green spaces and connectivity in and out of the centre on public transport.
Further work is also being undertaken to explore how other assets including community, sport and recreation facilities could be improved.
Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for business and opportunities for Northumberland County Council, said: “It’s great for work to be getting underway on a number of improvements delivered by the County Council and our partners. “There are ambitious plans coming forward for a range of regeneration projects which will benefit the whole town.”
Councillor Wayne Daley, County Councillor for Cramlington North, said: “On behalf of County Councillors in Cramlington, we are very pleased to see delivery get underway. The commitment from the County Council to this investment package responding to what local people have told us is a great step forward in our efforts to improve our town. It’s great to see the initial projects get underway with even bigger things to come in the longer term.”
Mayor Helen Morris, Town Mayor for Cramlington Town Council said: “It's fantastic to see the improvements to Cramlington getting underway with our walking and cycling routes getting a facelift. We are looking forward to playing our part in delivering positive change with Town Council led projects in development for delivery during 2025 to improve green spaces and youth provision in the town. There will be more news on this in the New Year.”