Concerns over value of coalfields regeneration

Despite spending £630 million to regenerate English coalfields, the DCLG has not achieved value for money and has failed to measure the direct effects of that expenditure, according to the chairman of the Committee of Public Accounts.

Edward Leigh also warned that the department still has £450 million to spend under the initiative, so should start afresh with a 'proper assessment of the needs of the former coalfield areas¹. It should also develop a sophisticated means of measuring progress.

'While progress has been made, coalfield regeneration has cost the taxpayer much more than originally expected, and it has taken much longer than planned,¹ he said.