A £20 million investment boost is set to kickstart the regeneration of a County Durham town. 

Work is underway to create a 10-year delivery plan for Spennymoor in partnership with local residents and businesses.

The County Durham town is one of more than 50 “overlooked” UK towns each given the fund. The funding will be put towards high street heritage and regeneration; transport and connectivity; and safety and security.

More than £7 million has recently been invested in the area, including the redevelopment of the former Festival Walk shopping centre site and the town’s leisure centre. 

The plans took a step forward at Wednesday’s Durham County Council cabinet meeting when councillors agreed to progress the town’s investment plan. 

Read more: Spennymoor traders respond to £20m cash boost

Cllr Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy, said: “Building on the work we and private developers have undertaken in and around the town, this new funding provides the opportunity to make significant and long-lasting improvements to ensure Spennymoor remains a vibrant centre serving an increasing residential population.”

The Northern Echo: More than £7 million has recently been invested in the area, including the redevelopment of the former Festival Walk shopping centre site and the town’s leisure centre. More than £7 million has recently been invested in the area, including the redevelopment of the former Festival Walk shopping centre site and the town’s leisure centre. (Image: Sarah Caldecott)

A new Spennymoor Town Board is due to be formed and will play a crucial role in the ongoing regeneration of the County Durham town. The new group will see representatives from the community, and public and private sectors cooperate to create a new vision for the town.

The local authority is to take inspiration from a similar Town Board scheme set up in Bishop Auckland, which it says will be “invaluable in making rapid progress in developing the vision for the town”. 

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Cllr Scott added: “Central to the success of the programme will be to ensure local people feel the programme meets their needs - and much of the early development work will focus on the involvement of stakeholders and community organisations, helping build civic capacity as well as delivering agreed improvements.”

The scheme will also focus on connectivity, accessibility and safety. Cllr Alan Shield, cabinet member of equality and inclusion, added: “We have been working with and listening to local people, and looking to make investments which can make a difference to people’s lives now and into the future. 

“Working with the Board, which includes elected officials, residents, businesses and stakeholders, should provide us with an inclusive route through the development of the vision and investment plan, which will galvanise current efforts across the town and provide new opportunities for improvement and investment.”