On The Agenda: Regeneration plans evolve over time as the landscape changes

When I think back to the South Shields town centre – and indeed most town centres – of 20 years ago, it was a very different landscape to what we see today.

The way we live, work and shop has changed dramatically; high streets like King Street now need more than shops to thrive.

That’s why our plans have evolved over time, but they have always focused on boosting footfall.

For several years now, work has been going on behind the scenes to facilitate the relocation of South Tyneside College from its current Westoe site into the heart of South Shields town centre.

Back in 2021 when we held the ‘Our South Shields Conversation’, consulting local people about the future of the town, there was overwhelming support for the college move.

Of the 1,300 residents who responded, more than 80 per cent backed the idea, believing it would lead to a livelier town centre, creating opportunities for new and existing businesses.

We listened to that feedback, and the relocation then became the central part of our masterplan for the town.

Back then it seemed like a distant aspiration, but now, just weeks away from construction work starting on the new campus, I am so excited to finally see our vision start to become reality, after years of preparation and planning.

The final pieces of the jigsaw have fallen into place recently, with confirmation of £18.2m in funding from the North East Combined Authority, and the appointment of Hebburn-based firm Castle, to deliver the build.

We already have planning permission in place for the main campus, and we are expecting a planning application for the student accommodation to be lodged very shortly.

One Harton Quay, which was formerly BT’s business centre, has been earmarked for a 125-bed accommodation block. Another central element of the town’s regeneration is a refurbished Customs House and further development of the Mill Dam area.

Locating students’ living quarters on the riverside would help strengthen that vital link between the waterfront areas and the town centre, boosting footfall between the main campus and the accommodation.

And given the college’s strength in marine studies, with its world-renowned Marine School, the riverside setting is such a fitting location.

The multi-million pound main campus will span 14,000sqm, accessed on King Street with a double-height glass atrium behind the reception entrance. A Grade-II listed building on Barrington Street will be refurbished to house offices for staff.

The facilities, which will include a state-of-the-art marine simulator, will attract students from across the region and beyond. South Tyneside is already a leader in industries such as the green economy and the modern college will mean young people can come and learn the skills needed to capitalise on these growing sectors.

It’s estimated that the new college will bring around 9,000 additional people to the town centre – people that will shop, eat, drink and spend money there.

They will benefit from a decade’s worth of investment which has laid the foundations for our ambitions – for example, our fantastic transport interchange and cultural venue The Word.

The council has worked tirelessly to create the environment and infrastructure to generate public sector confidence, unlocking land and clearing sites for development, and improving the public realm.

And that will continue. Further investments to improve the look of King Street are planned, with new seating, lighting and green areas. The site of the now demolished Central Library is clear and a prime site for development – possibly for new housing, which would boost the town centre residential population and again increase footfall.

In a matter of weeks, we will see the first spades in the ground as work gets underway on the campus and a new skyline will gradually start to form in South Shields. The college hopes to welcome new students for the September 2027 intake.

We’ve worked hand in hand with local people to get to this point, together shaping a town centre that will appeal to generations to come.

I hope residents are as hopeful and excited as I am as we embark on this new chapter.