North West Coalfield

North West Coalfield Communities Regeneration Programme

The North West Coalfield Communities Regeneration Programme (NWCCRP), funded through the North West Development Agency (NWDA), is a unique and innovative partnership-lead strategy for the regeneration of former coalfield communities.

The programme supports eight local authorities: Allerdale, Bolton, Copeland, Knowsley, Salford, St Helens, Warrington and Wigan. The programme has been developed through the North West Coalfield Communities Campaign (NWCCC), now the North West Alliance, which aims to address deprivation through promoting economic, social and environmental regeneration of former coalfield areas. It aims to narrow the gap in prosperity, and improve the well-being, of those who formerly worked in coalfield areas.

The NWCCRP has an allocation of £4.35 million over three years, until 2012. Other public and private sector funding is also being levered and invested alongside NWDA money. The programme will achieve targeted outputs such as increased skills, training, jobs and promote entrepreneurship as an option. Wigan Council is the accountable body for the Programme and manages it on behalf of the Independent Board. The Board comprises of two representatives from each of the eight targeted areas representing the public, private and community sectors.

The Phase 2 programme will deliver an integrated regeneration package based on the client journey approach which will build on the achievements of Phase 1. This will complement other regeneration activity within coalfield areas, contributing to improved economic and social conditions. A co-ordinated approach will ensure economies of scale and also continue to support communities previously outside the scope of other regeneration programmes. The priority area of action being:

Promoting Enterprise and Reducing Worklessness

Increase engagement of workless people into employment, education and training opportunities
Improve employability and occupational skills
Promote an Enterprise Culture
Encourage and enable employers to recruit workless residents and retain people in work
Improve business survival

The areas of focus have been informed by the “GENECON evidence base study for the development of the NW Coalfield Communities Regeneration Programme (Phase 2)” commissioned by the NW Alliance. The priority areas also reflect the changing focus of the NWDA priorities as detailed within the Regional Economic Strategy. The detail of the project has also been informed by the recent Department of Communities and Local Government review of Coalfield programmes and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation report entitled “Coalfields and neighbouring cities: economic regeneration, labour markets and governance”

NWCCRP Phase 2 Strategy

Wigan Council has been co-ordinating a concerted effort from partners and key stakeholders to develop a strategy to Promote Enterprise and Reduce Worklessness in the NW Coalfield Communities. On 5 May 2009, the NWDA gave final approval to the NWCCRP Phase 2 Strategy.

Forthcoming Commissions and Commissioning Rounds

For information on forthcoming activity to be commissioned and commissioning rounds please follow the link to the Wigan Council webpage, commissions will also be advertised on the Supply2.gov website.

External links

This page was last updated on 3 October 2009

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Salford City Council, Salford Civic Centre, Chorley Road, Swinton, Salford M27 5AW

0161 794 4711