The purpose of the Darlington Local Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy - pdf document is to provide an approach to tackling deprivation on a neighbourhood - by neighbourhood basis in the eleven most disadvantaged wards within Darlington, but in doing so the boundaries of these wards will not constrain action where neighbourhoods cross ward boundaries.
The strategy provides an overarching framework for tackling deprivation in Darlington’s priority wards over five years and its development has included consultation with a wide variety of interested parties including undertaking community appraisals. It also includes linkages with other complementary strategies. In particular, the Government’s National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal, Darlington’s Community Strategy and Darlington Borough Council’s Social Inclusion Strategy.
The aim of this Strategy is to:
‘reduce deprivation in the eleven most disadvantaged wards within the Borough and improve the life chances of residents living within these areas’.
What is Neighbourhood Renewal?
Neighbourhood renewal involves reversing the spiral of decline in disadvantaged neighbourhoods. It is about working from the grassroots to deliver economic prosperity and jobs, safer communities, good education, decent housing and better health, as well as fostering a new sense of community among residents.
Neighbourhood renewal is a central feature of the Labour government’s political and social agenda for the UK. The Government’s National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal was launched by the Prime Minister in January 2001. Its aim is to ensure that within 20 years, no-one will be disadvantaged by where they live and presented a vision that:
Within 10-20 years, no-one should be seriously disadvantaged by where they live. People on low income should not have to suffer conditions and services that are failing and so different from what the rest of the population receives.
The National Strategy for Neighbourhood Renewal programme is designed to improve standards of health, education, housing and the environment, to reduce crime and worklessness, and to close the gap between the worst-off neighbourhoods and the rest of the country.
Darlington does not receive Neighbourhood Renewal Funding, however the Darlington Partnership the (Local Strategic Partnership) has recognised the need for a co-ordinated approach to neighbourhood renewal to help address high levels of deprivation that exist within the Borough of Darlington.
Darlington Partnership will be responsible for ensuring that the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy is turned into reality. Darlington Partnership Themed groups: Community Safety, Learning Partnership, Health Improvement & Social Inclusion and Economy & Environment will be responsible for the delivery of the action plan and will monitor and review the actions linked to their group. The Neighbourhood Renewal Action Plan has been integrated into the Community Strategy Action Plan. The Darlington Community Partnership Steering Group, the umbrella organisation for the Community Partnerships, will also monitor progress against the strategic priorities of the document.
The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy focuses on the 11 priority wards of Bank Top, Central, Cockerton East, Cockerton West, Eastbourne, Haughton East, Lascelles, Lingfield, Northgate, North Road and Park East. These wards also have Community Partnerships, which play a key role in delivering local actions to help improve the area. More information on the Community Partnerships can be found on the Community Partnerships page.