Excellent news as the North East Combined Authority has been conditionally accepted to Phase Three of the One Public Estate programme.
The programme brings together all public sector bodies within a locality to work together to develop a radically new approach to managing their land and property.
In each area the programme will deliver significant savings as well as providing better and more integrated local services in places that are more convenient for users. They will also release land and property, which can be reused for housing and new enterprise, boosting local jobs, growth and house-building.
Since its launch in 2013 One Public Estate has supported 32 councils in England, which are set to create an additional 20,000 jobs and around 9,000 homes; raise £129 million capital receipts from land and property sales, and save £77 million on running costs. Northumberland County Council have been welcomed on board in Phase Three with a grant of £130,000. The council now has an opportunity to build a strong partnership and develop a full programme of ambitious projects to be delivered as part of One Public Estate. I sincerely hope they grasp this fantastic opportunity so they can become fully integrated into the project.
