URBAN II

URBAN II is a European Community Initiative Programme. It is designed to encourage innovative community-led approaches to regenerating deprived urban areas. As such, it is a more flexible funding regime than the Objective 2 and 3 programmes in the region, but covers a much smaller area.

Connecting the Coalfield (CtC) is a joint submission by the City of Sunderland, Durham County Council and the District of Easington for consideration of Hetton and Murton as an URBAN II programme area. The rationale for this cross-boundary programme area is that the administrative split between Sunderland and Easington historically has prevented the Coalfield area being addressed as a coherent whole. Both sides of the administrative divide share a heritage of coalmining, and the economic and social problems caused by the disappearance of this industry. URBAN II is directed at the cross boundary area as a whole, rather than as two separate areas.

Unusually for an URBAN II programme, Hetton and Murton is not an inner city area. Instead, it is relatively rural in character, resulting in it being the biggest URBAN II programme in area covered. However, the three local authorities recognised that the problems affecting this area were in many ways typical of deprived inner city areas, with the additional difficulties of rural isolation. This innovative use of the fund was accepted by the European Commission.

A draft programme document by the CtC Partnership (comprised of representatives of local organisations) to participate in the URBAN II Community Initiative was submitted to the European Commission in June 2001 and approved in December, 2001. The bid was for €11,447,097 ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), or around £7m, and covers the period 2000 - 2006 (inclusive).

It is important to note that in common with most European funding programmes, URBAN II does not provide 100% of funding for projects. European Structural Funds are designed to be additional to national development funds, rather than to replace them. Under URBAN II, projects can apply for up to 50% of their project cost. The remainder must be met out of non-European funds, whether public or private. This means that while URBAN II provides around £7m of ERDF, the total spend on project supported by URBAN II will be approximately £15m.

Programme Target Area

Within in Easington District, County Durham

• Haswell
• South Hetton
• Murton West
• Majority of Murton East

Within the City of Sunderland

• The majority of the wards of Hetton le Hole and Eppleton.

Strategic Priorities

The strategy will be addressed through three strategic priorities organised on a thematic basis. These priorities are implemented by two measures each, as shown below, along with their financial allocation.

Priority 1: Engaging Young People

• Measure 1.1: Linking Education and Employment (£1,270,224)
• Measure 1.2: Community Activity (£750,590)

Priority 2: Empowering the Coalfield Community

• Measure 2.1: Community Governance (£1,345,532)
• Measure 2.2: Delivering Equal Opportunities (£502,068)

Priority 3: Building and Sustaining Economic Activity

• Measure 3.1: Providing the Physical Capacity for Regeneration (£2,020,812)
• Measure 3.2: Support for Business Development and Innovation (£692,852)

In addition to these priorities, there is also a fourth priority for technical assistance. This will finance programme management and a development team, whose role is to facilitate community groups’ access to URBAN II funds.

For further information on the application process and remaining resource, as well as advice on potential match funding and, where applicable, other European funding streams which may be more suitable, please contact the URBAN II office:

Bryan Mayhew

Urban II Co- ordinator
Sunderland City Council
Room 2.74 Civic Centre
Sunderland SR2 7DN

Tel: 0191 561 2481

e-mail: bryan.mayhew@sunderland.gov.uk

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