A community-led regeneration plan for Jarrow unlocking £20 million of Government funding to transform the town and create new opportunities for young people has been backed by senior councillors.

The Jarrow Forward neighbourhood board recently revealed a ten-year regeneration plan for the town which was produced after listening to the views of more than 1,000 residents and 500 young people, as well as community groups, businesses, schools, service providers and national funding organisations.

Jarrow Forward is made up of representatives of local groups and organisations, including Barbour, Bede’s Helping Hands, the NHS ICB [Integrated Care Board], Kate Osborne MP, Tyne Coast College, Jarrow School, Nexus, Northumbria Police, Jarrow Sea Cadets, Big Local Jarrow and more.

placeholder image — Jarrow Town Hall | LDRS

Project bosses have said the new regeneration plan reflects the pride people feel for their historic town and their desire for fulfilling local jobs, cultural activities, leisure and sport facilities, shops and cafés and for things to do that will inspire and empower young people to take control of their own future.

The plans also include attracting more people into the town with environmental improvements, activities and events and more investment centred around a new play strategy for children, an “intergenerational creative centre” for young people and an employability hub for the 18+ age group.

The plan, which has the full support of Jarrow’s MP Kate Osborne and South Tyneside Council, has already been submitted to the Government with the board partners expected to begin the first steps.

Those behind the scheme said this will include “visualising concepts”, identifying additional funds and investment needed and “building community partnerships” to deliver the first projects in 2026.

Councillors have previously been told that Jarrow’s 10-year regeneration plan would be “high level” setting out “challenges, assets and priorities” to “give Government surety and allow funding to flow from April 2026.”

This will include around £2 million a year over the 10-year period of the plan benefiting Jarrow and its residents, with detailed plans for individual projects and schemes expected to be revealed in future.

South Tyneside Council’s cabinet of senior Labour councillors, at a meeting this week (November 5, 2025), agreed to a number of recommendations.

This included “endorsing the regeneration plan produced by Jarrow Forward and welcoming its submission to Government” and “supporting the governance of Jarrow Forward and its future work.”

Councillor Margaret Meling, cabinet member for economic growth and transport, outlined the report to cabinet.

The senior councillor said the plan presented a “clear vision to transform Jarrow into a place where people can thrive” and “where every young person will have a helping hand to be the best they can”.

“While Jarrow Forward awaits feedback from Government on the plan, it is developing a communications strategy to build on the initial engagement with communities, partners and businesses, supporting efforts to inform, enthuse and inspire the community and partners to engage and participate,” Cllr Meling added.

Several cabinet members spoke out on the report including councillor Paul Dean, the local authority’s cabinet member for the voluntary sector, partnerships and equalities.

“As a Jarrow lad born and bred I’m passionate about things that go on in my area and I can’t praise enough the work that has gone on behind the scenes by the board that has been put in place, including people like [chair of Jarrow Forward] Susan Wear,” Cllr Dean said.

“There are people on the board from various partnerships and they have all had input into it including elected members from various wards within the Jarrow area.

“I just want to say I’m really pleased that this is going and that we’re investing, and any improvement towards Jarrow I will always give my full backing to.”

Councillor Ruth Berkley, cabinet member for adults, health and independence, said engagement work with communities to develop the plan for Jarrow had been “exemplary”.

“The board hasn’t been doing it on its own, it’s been doing it with the community and listening to the community and that is what will make this a successful project,” Cllr Berkley added.

“It will be transformational for those who live in the Jarrow area but particularly for the young people coming through and I think that is something to be lauded that we are doing and part of.”

Five values underpin the regeneration plan for Jarrow, which aims to be “life-enhancing, innovative, environmentally sustainable, engaging, and legacy-focused” and there are also three priorities:

Better futures for Jarrow’s young people – more opportunities to be creative and learn new skills, and better facilities for sport, play, leisure and culture.
A re-energised town centre – transforming the look and feel of Jarrow, improving connectivity, supporting new attractive events and initiatives.
A connected, cohesive community – communicating about existing and new assets, services and opportunities, supporting community groups and boosting pride in the town.

Jarrow is one of 75 towns nationally to benefit from the Government’s plan, now named Pride in Place.

A presentation about Jarrow Forward, the panel which developed Jarrow’s regeneration plan, recently went before South Tyneside Council’s Our Place Scrutiny Committee setting out key developments on the £20m funding pot for the town.

It was noted that a regeneration plan for Jarrow had already been submitted to the previous Government but the fund was “put on hold by the [2024] General Election”, council documents state.

The presentation to councillors said that “following lobbying, [the] new Government confirmed in [the] Nov 2024 Budget that the fund would continue” and that the “March 2025 Budget confirmed this, but changed the name to Plan for Neighbourhoods” and made changes.

This included pushing the start date of funding into 2026, providing “capacity funds” and “widening focus to three priorities”.

The scrutiny presentation to councillors in September, 2025, added the Jarrow Forward board has met several times and has undertaken work, including “research into existing projects and national data”, “liaising and lobbying Government”, holding workshops and undertaking community engagement.

Jarrow Forward will continue to involve and work with community groups, residents, young people and businesses as the work progresses to deliver the plan.

A new Jarrow Forward Fund is expected to launch in November for local voluntary and community groups to apply for small grants to build their capacity and ability to help support the vision for Jarrow.

To find out more about Jarrow Forward and how to get involved, visit South Tyneside Council’s website: www.southtyneside.gov.uk/jarrowforward