One Core Strategy

The One Core Strategy consultation ended on 4th January 2012. Although supported by Gateshead's Labour Council it was essentially the strategy of the former Liberal Democrats in Newcastle. The Newcastle City Council approved the consultation before the last local elections and left the incoming Labour administration with a half-baked proposal heavy on private sector development models and with virtually no value to the communities on either side of the Tyne.

Depending on the private sector means that the strategy is already in trouble if the aim is to meet housing need. The only builders reporting good results are those building executive property, buy to let, and larger houses. This is because the first time buyer cannot find the finance and can be usually be found sleeping on the couch at a friend's house. The politically unpalatable story for parties committed to deal with housing need is that the private sector is not interested. Building for profit means leaving the low paid, and the even the average earner, dependent on social housing or private landlords. The One Core Strategy offers demolition in Bensham only as an attraction to private developers and thus providing profit rather than dealing with acute housing need.