'Fantastic' - Meet the Biddick Hall resident spearheading £20m regeneration project in South Shields
A Biddick Hall resident is chairing the new Pride in Place Neighbourhood board, spearheading a £20m investment in the community.
A Biddick Hall resident with a passion for her community is to lead plans for multimillion-pound investment there.
Tracey Stephenson now chairs the new Pride in Place Neighbourhood board. It will play a key role in shaping the area, which has been awarded up to £20m government regeneration funding.
This will support investment in the neighbourhood over a 10-year period from 2027 to build stronger communities, create thriving places and empower local people.
Tracey chairs a board of representatives from across the community: local residents, schools, the Family Hub, an MP, councillors and partner organisations. Claire Finlay will be vice-chair.
The appointment is milestone in the programme, which is designed to put local people at the heart of decision making and ensure investment reflects the priorities of residents.
Tracey, who has extensive experience in the voluntary, community and business sectors, said: “I’m delighted to be appointed chair of the Pride in Place Neighbourhood Board for Biddick Hall. Our board is made up mainly of local residents, giving us a fantastic opportunity to work together to shape a shared vision for our community.
“Building on the views and ideas shared through community consultation, we will develop short, medium and long-term plans that reflect the priorities and ambitions of local people and will make a lasting difference for Biddick Hall.”
A series of community engagement events have already taken place across Biddick Hall, gathering ideas and feedback from local people about the future of their area.
The board's first meeting is expected to take place in September, when members will begin considering the evidence and ideas gathered through community engagement activity and developing a long-term investment plan.
Councillor Susan Sybenga, deputy leader of South Tyneside Council, said: "This is an exciting moment for Biddick Hall. The appointment of Tracey as chair marks the beginning of the next chapter in a programme that will see local people driving plans for their neighbourhood’s future.
South Shields MP Emma Lewell, said: “I’m delighted that the Neighbourhood Board is now in place.
“My team and I have worked with community partners since I secured the funding with the Government last September to inform residents in the area that we wanted to hear their views and ideas and to ask them to step forward to be board members.”