North East Combined Authority and Homes England have signed a strategic place partnership to support the region’s housing ambitions.
NECA and the agency will work together to unlock locally-led plans and provide homes.
This includes drawing on Homes England expertise and resources – including land, legal powers and funding – and developing a shared business plan aligned to local priorities.
The agreement deepens existing local-national partnership work between NECA, North East local authorities and Homes England, with funding and expertise already supporting a range of projects, including Forth Yards in Newcastle and West Park in Sunderland.
Homes England has similar partnerships in place with regional authorities including South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, the West Midlands and Greater Manchester.
North East mayor Kim McGuinness said: “Signing the strategic place partnership with Homes England will allow us to take some of our biggest brownfield sites and turn them from eyesores into the homes and communities people need.
“It is an opportunity to turbocharge development across the region by working with the agency and our local authorities to create new homes that are affordable, energy efficient and where people can thrive.”
Homes England chief executive Peter Denton said: “A strategic place partnership isn’t a ceremonial bit of paper. It signals a long-term commitment where regional and national teams work together for the benefit of communities, to achieve the visions of local leaders who understand what people local to the area want and need to thrive.
“My colleagues and I are excited to deepen our ties with the combined authority to help accelerate progress. We are united by a passion to get things done in the right way, in the right places, to help ensure successful, sustainable regeneration and more affordable, quality homes for thousands of people in the North East.”
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