North-East council leaders welcome Government boost for high streets

They were reacting to announcement that three high streets across the North-East have been awarded up to £55.9 million, to help them implement ambitious local plans to transform their high streets.

They are among 72 high streets that will receive a share of a £831m recovery fund designed to stimulate the recovery of town and city centres following the pandemic.

Riverside Sunderland masterplan

Bishop Auckland is one of the biggest winners in our region, receiving £19.9 million to improve its transport, hospitality and leisure offering while bringing vacant properties back to life.

Also getting the full funding bid is Sunderland, which received £25 million to transform the city centre with a new state-of-the-art library, creative labs and a local history centre.

Provisional funding offers went to Stockton, set to receive £16,543,812, and Middlesbrough and Loftus, with £14,170,352 earmarked for each town.

Sunderland City Council’s bid to Government to secure the funding set out a number of priority projects including: the development of Culture House, leisure spaces at Crowtree Place, remodelling St Mary’s Boulevard to connect the heart of the city to its riverside and improvements to the eastern gateway of the city centre, including a new north entrance to Sunderland station.

The £25m – awarded through the Future High Streets Fund – will be used to leverage further private sector investment and council funding. In all, it is hoped this funding will unlock £78m of investment to deliver on the priority projects, which - alongside Legal & General’s £100m commitment to the city centre and that of other investors developing in the area - will bring about a step change in the heart of Sunderland.

Councillor Graeme Miller, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “We have been ploughing ahead with our plans to boost the city centre over the last 18 months, and – despite the challenges of the pandemic – we have not lost any momentum.

“This announcement of more funding will provide an additional boost as we look forward to 2021. We’re determined to deliver on our vision for the city centre, anchored by Riverside Sunderland. Our plans will regenerate the whole area, with the benefits of this new urban quarter spilling out to the whole city centre.

“The focus is on bricks and mortar – on creating new spaces that will attract footfall to the city, giving our businesses and traders an opportunity to tap into the spending power of these visitors”

He added: “This year has been incredibly tough for our city centre, and high streets up and down the country, but there is real cause for optimism, with investment flooding into the heart of the city, which will absolutely transform it for generations to come.”

Sharon Appleby, head of business operations at Sunderland Business Improvement District (BID), said: “This is a phenomenal announcement and cements what – despite the huge challenges of COVID – has been an incredible year for the city.

“The amount of positive news coming out of the city centre is unprecedented – millions and millions of pounds of investment, and a clear vision that will transform the area. It’s such an exciting time for Sunderland and I look forward to working with the council and with our traders to ensure we seize the benefits this will bring.”

The news is the latest in a long line of positive investment announcements to come out of Sunderland city centre in recent weeks.

In October, the council revealed ambitions to create a world-class new place to live, work and play at Riverside Sunderland in a plan that set out plans to deliver one million sq ft of modern office space, in a new central business district, providing 8-10,000 new jobs; a new city centre site for a major life sciences / healthcare facility, plans for a state-of-the-art library and community hub – the Culture House; the upgrading of St Mary’s Boulevard into a stylish new main street and the transformation of Galley’s Gill into a superb landscape park, and new green spaces in the heart of the city.

As well as plans for the Riverside Sunderland area, the council announced at the end of November that it is looking to deliver a £27m improvement programme focused on the train station, including demolition and reconstruction of a new southern concourse to improve the welcome point for visitors travelling by train.

Other developments include new leisure venues, retail hubs and public spaces that are taking shape in the city centre, including a 120-room Holiday Inn Hotel on Keel Square, a 450-seater Auditorium, that is under construction in the city’s Minster Quarter, a £1.9m regeneration programme – supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and Sunderland City Council – that has funded major improvements to nearby Town Park, along with improvements to historic buildings like the Dun Cow and Peacock and improvements to Mackie’s Corner.

Cllr Miller added: “We are pushing forward with our plans at lightning pace to ensure that the benefits are felt as quickly as possible, and that we drive a step change in the city centre.

“This additional funding is a boost, and will give investors yet-more confidence that we are a city to watch – one that will deliver on its promise and realise its vast potential, driven by a council that is firmly future-focused.”

The North East’s biggest council has welcomed news that almost £20 million of Government funding will be invested into a County Durham town.

Durham County Council will receive the award for Bishop Auckland from the Future High Streets Fund, which aims to support areas to recover from the pandemic and help to protect and create more jobs in the region.

Cllr Carl Marshall, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: “We welcome the announcement of an award of £19.9 million for investment into Bishop Auckland town centre following our submission into the Future High Streets Fund. I would like to thank everyone locally who has helped to shape our plans for the future of the town.

“This is part of our vision to transform the high street, supporting the conversion of vacant and under used buildings by creating new opportunities for the retail and hospitality sectors, supporting our revival, restoration and recovery from the impact of the pandemic.

“A key factor is to ensure the area is accessible with a new bus station and car parks, thereby increasing footfall and providing better links to key visitor attractions in the surrounding areas.

“This will attract more visitors and create new jobs, contributing to economic regeneration and ensuring the local community has a town centre they can be proud of.

“It is only the start of our plans for Bishop Auckland. Our Towns Fund proposal is also currently out for consultation and due to be submitted by the council at the end of January. Our plan sets out further ambitious proposals for transport infrastructure, investment in digital, employment and training opportunities.”  

Meanwhile, leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, Councillor Mary Lanigan said: “The £5.8 million of funding from Government is welcome news, however we are disappointed that we weren’t awarded the £8.5m that the Council and Loftus Regeneration Group asked for in our bid.

“It is important that we review our plans for Loftus now to ensure we turn our vision into a reality and transform Loftus into a modern market town providing facilities and attractions for residents and a memorable destination for our visitors.

“The council has been busy this year laying the foundations for the transformation and a consultation on the proposals over the summer found that 87% of the people who responded supported the plans to rejuvenate the town.

“This funding alongside additional funding from the Tees Valley Combined Authority and the Council will provide a huge boost for the borough as we attract more people to visit and stay in the area, creating jobs for local people and helping our businesses thrive.”

Councillor Wayne Davies, Cabinet Member for Economic Development at the Council, said: “We’re thankful the Government has chosen to invest £5.8million in Loftus. Whilst it is fantastic news that Loftus is to receive this much-needed investment, it’s not as much as we hoped for, and it is disappointing that the southern councils in the North-East, particularly Teesside, appear to have been short-changed. We will continue to work with Government to maximize any additional funding which may be available in the future.

“With an additional £3million from Tees Valley Combined Authority, and £500,000 from the Council, this gives us more than £9million to put some of our proposals into motion. We will now take stock and work out how we can give Loftus the best value for the money on improving the town centre experience for its residents and visitors.

“There is a lot of positivity in the town and we received an overwhelming response from residents when we went out to consultation. We will continue to work closely with the community as we bring our plans into reality.”