Regenerating Newcastle

Since 2004 when the Liberal Democrats took over, our City has changed for the better. Despite a recession caused by Labour's failure to manage the economy, Newcastle has continued to grow.

Last month we celebrated the start of building new homes in Scotswood, an area let down by Labour's "Going for Growth" strategy. In Cowgate, the City has worked with local residents to develop a new sustainable way to give an old estate a brighter future.

Our City needs more good quality jobs. Development such as Science City on the old Brewery site will produce homegrown new businesses in the heart of the City, using ideas created from university
research. The city centre has been boosted by new buildings, new cultural facilities, and new retail through the council-led Eldon Square extension.

On the Tyne, there is a growing cluster of businesses serving the offshore and Green Energy sectors. Liberal
Democrats will continue to promote high-quality, highly-skilled jobs, particularly apprenticeships in new
businesses, like the recent wind energy investment in the East-End. The Government's new Enterprise Zone for Tyneside may also help these initiatives.

It's not just about big business either. Liberal Democrats are committed to helping companies of all sizes,
particularly where small groups of local people get together to help themselves by forming social enterprises, and our Newcastle Futures programme to help people back into work has received international praise as an example of best practice.

There's still more to do - but the number of young people out of work, education, or training in Newcastle fell 20% last year.