£5.5m investment for Northumberland

Regional development agency One NorthEast has contributed almost £1.5 million to the Private Sector Projects Fund, with public sector contributions amounting to another £4 million.

Working with Northumberland county council and the Northumberland Strategic Partnership, the project aims to provide support to individuals and firms in the Blyth, Wansbeck and Berwick areas which plan to develop offices, manufacturing bases or tourism facilities.

Applicants to the fund could be awarded up to £138,000 with priority given to projects which will create more than £100,000 in capital investment, while those looking at new-build or conversion developments could receive as much as 25 per cent of the costs.

Councillor Jim Smith, Executive Member for Environment and Regeneration at Northumberland County Council, commented: "Investment in building assets will help attract inward investment and new jobs to the county and provide a firm base towards economic recovery.

Earlier this month, One NorthEast revealed a £10 million support package for local companies, which includes £2.5 million to help small and medium-sized firms expand their operations.