RDA coalfield assets transfer to HCA now complete

Marking completion today of transfer of the Regional Development Agency (RDA) interests in coalfield assets to the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Pat Ritchie, chief executive of the HCA, said:

"This transfer acknowledges the key HCA role in managing and developing coalfield land and property assets, the Agency’s prior investment in these sites, and our wealth of experience in working with partners to deliver economic and regeneration benefits to local communities where it is most needed. This builds substantially on our existing coalfields regeneration programme as part of our ongoing Land and Regeneration work, and we will continue to work with our local partners to ensure the best outcome for communities and maximum value for money."

The 52 coalfield assets include land at Avenue Coking Works in the East Midlands, Bickershaw Colliery (South) in Greater Manchester, employment and public open space at Betteshanger in Kent and also at Grimethorpe in South Yorkshire. Most of the assets were previously owned by the Agency under English Partnerships. They will be transferred to the HCA’s existing Land and Regeneration portfolio, and will continue to be delivered as part of the National Coalfields Programme. The HCA will continue to be accountable to Government for the effective management and disposal of these assets. It will continue to work with local partners to develop, invest in and dispose of assets, in pursuit of the economic development and regeneration objectives agreed by local partners and in support of local strategies.  

Mrs Ritchie added:

“To date, the HCA’s work regenerating former coalfield areas, through its National Coalfields Programme, has had a huge impact in transforming the fortunes of these areas, through the creation of thousands of new homes, jobs, businesses and green spaces. The inclusion of these assets within our wider land portfolio will ensure that this legacy continues, and will make a major contribution to the localism agenda.”

The transfer of RDA coalfield assets is the first stage of asset transfer to the HCA. The process to transfer the remaining RDA land and property portfolio to the HCA is due for completion in early Autumn.  

Read the full list of assets. More information here.
 

Ends

For more media information please contact Helen Stoddart in the HCA press office, 020 7874 8263 / helen.stoddart@hca.gsx.gov.uk

Notes to Editors

The HCA has inherited a portfolio of 52 coalfield land and property assets from the RDAs, the majority of which were previously owned by the Agency (formerly English Partnerships) as part of the National Coalfields Programme. Since it began in 1996, the National Coalfields Programme has delivered over 2,800 hectares of land brought back into use and an estimated 21,000 jobs and attracted around £1 billion of private sector investment.

The addition of the 52 RDA coalfield assets breaks down as:

Advantage West Midlands - 3
EMDA – 13
NWDA – 3
ONE – 8
SEEDA – 3
Yorkshire Forward – 22

In addition, 4 RDA members of staff have transferred to the HCA under TUPE regulations to continue managing the coalfields work.

The remaining RDA asset portfolio will sit as a dedicated programme within the HCA’s work. There will be a transfer of staff from the RDAs to the HCA in accordance with TUPE regulations. More details on this are expected later in the year. The exception is London where the London Development Agency’s assets will be transferred to the GLA (see below).

The closure of the 9 Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) for England was announced in the Budget on 22 June 2010.  The RDAS were created by primary legislation through the Regional Development Agencies Act in 1998 and legislation will therefore be required to close them.  For the 8 RDAs outside London this will be through the Public Bodies Bill. For the London Development Agency it will be the Localism Bill, since changes to the government of London more generally are also being made through that bill.

The Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) is leading the process for closure, working closely with DCLG, HM Treasury and the Government departments who fund projects and programmes currently being delivered by the RDAs. The HCA is playing a key advisory role in the process.

It is anticipated that the RDAs closure process will be completed by March 2012.
 
The Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) is the single, national housing and regeneration delivery agency for England.  Our vision is to create opportunity for people to live in homes they can afford in places they want to live, by enabling local authorities and communities to deliver the ambition they have for their own areas.