The Breckland Economic Development Team implemented a programme to deliver £12.7 million of rural economic regeneration over three years. The Community Economic Regeneration Package has succeeded in creating a more dynamic rural economy and a vibrant, socially-inclusive community.
Breckland in Norfolk extends across 500 square miles and comprises five market towns and more than 100 rural parishes. The area’s largest town, Thetford, includes housing estates with some of the highest levels of deprivation in the East of England. Breckland Council wanted to drive economic regeneration across this diverse area but needed to meet a broad range of social and economic needs.
To address this challenge, the Breckland Economic Development team devised a ‘partnership and packaging’ approach, where it joined forces with community and voluntary organisations to implement a wide range of projects. The ‘packaging’ element involved the Economic Development team taking responsibility for project management and accountability for all of the projects, leaving the partners free to focus on delivery.
The £12.7 million Community Economic Regeneration Package encompassed 14 major projects, ranging from the regeneration of town centres to the restoration of historic ruins. The projects focused on the three areas of Breckland with the highest levels of deprivation: Thetford, Swaffham and Watton, with funding coming from a variety of European Union and public sector sources.
Topics associated with this project
Community engagement, East England, Economy, Employment, Energy, Financial management, Partnership working, Project management, Regeneration, Rural, Training