A SUCCESSFUL businessman says he is anxious to see the Cinderford Northern Quarter regeneration get underway.

Founder and chief executive of the Cinderford-based Versarien, Neill Ricketts said he wants the regeneration to benefit future generations by creating local jobs for local people.

As a member of the Cinderford Regeneration Board and board member of G-First (Gloucestershire's Local Enterprise Partnership), he brings a local business view and is a key figure in the drive to get the £100m development secured and started.

"With private investors' support and public funding from the Homes and Communities Agency, we've got the perfect window of opportunity to ramp up the good progress made already and benefit Cinderford and the whole Forest of Dean," said Mr Ricketts.

"This regeneration is about the wellbeing, opportunities and prosperity of future generations."

A detailed planning application for the proposed Gloucestershire College Forest of Dean campus, a new £8.9m spine road and other residential, leisure and commercial development, is due to be submitted to Forest of Dean District Council in early March.

The applicants, Homes and Community Agency (HCA), have arranged a pre-application planning meeting with the council this week to discuss the application.

Neill said: "...I'm proud of the area, and Cinderford desperately needs investment to bring new life and vitality."

From its existing base in the Forest Vale industrial estate next to the Northern Quarter site, Versarien already employs 55 people.

"If we create local jobs for local people the rest will follow; regeneration will boost the town's and Forest's economy. Making this project happen will mean that shops can survive, businesses will thrive and most importantly, young people will stay in the area.

"As a business we work in close partnership with Gloucestershire College and the University of Gloucestershire. Together, we can provide the skills needed to feed local businesses.

"We're especially committed to our apprenticeship programme and we support local graduates to help them remain and work in the area. I've got six children and I want them to grow up in a place that prospers and provides opportunities. We need to give young people a reason and a chance to stay in the Forest.

"Cinderford has fantastic potential to create sustainable employment, skills, amenities and opportunities for local people and businesses," he said.

"The regeneration will protect the history and heritage of Cinderford, meet the needs of the area and treat the site sympathetically to enhance the environment for people and nature. My own company needs to expand quickly, but the sort of space we need just isn't available locally right now. Bringing the Northern Quarter to life will mean we can make decisions now for the long term."

Chair of the Cinderford Regeneration Board, Councillor Graham Morgan shares Neill Rickett's passion for the project and is encouraged by feedback from the recent public exhibition of the Northern Quarter plans, which attracted almost 140 visitors.

"More than seven out of ten people who filled in a questionnaire at the exhibition before Christmas said they were in favour of mixed scheme for education, housing and business. The same proportion welcomed the new college and a road to match the character of existing roads," he said.

"This demonstrates the strength of local support for the benefits that the project will bring."

David Warburton, Head of Area for the HCA, said: "It's very encouraging to see successful businesses like Versarien already investing in and demonstrating their commitment to Cinderford.

"The Northern Quarter is a once-in-a-generation chance to attract investment from other companies to create a thriving business community and help the whole area prosper. We've already invested heavily to make good progress to date and look forward to realising local peoples' ambition to get the next and most significant phase underway."