County Durham communities to benefit from £20 million

People living in Stanley, Peterlee, Crook and Tow Law will lead the renewal as part of the Government’s new Pride in Place programme.

The areas will receive £2 million every year for a decade to give them certainty when planning for the future, the Government said.

Local people will decide how funding is spent, and communities will gain new powers to seize boarded-up shops, block nuisance businesses, and buy local assets before they close.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “For too long, people have watched their towns and streets decline – powerless to stop boarded-up shops and neglected parks. That ends now.”

The funding was welcomed by Reform UK leaders in charge of Durham County Council but they urged the Government to provide better financial support for struggling services. 

Darren Grimes, the local authority’s deputy leader, said: “I’ll never knock fresh investment in Stanley South, Peterlee East, or Crook North and Tow Law — or indeed any community in our county that has long been crying out for attention. 

“But let’s not kid ourselves: a few million for parks and high streets doesn’t undo years of neglect.”

He urged the Labour Government to deliver a “fair funding formula” to help local authorities like Durham reduce its deficits and support children with special education needs. 

Cllr Grimes added: “We’re stuck in a broken system nationally: we pretend we can keep expanding a welfare state that only moves in one direction and not suffer the consequences. 

“Until there’s honesty about that contradiction, councils like ours will remain trapped in crisis management, no matter how many press releases get sent out about patriotic renewal”.  

Communities will be able to save local pubs and libraries.

Councils will be allowed to seize derelict buildings and boarded-up shops under Community Right to Buy and compulsory purchase powers.

Luke Akehurst, Labour MP for North Durham, said: "I promised to fight for investment in South Stanley - and I am proud to have delivered. This £20 million will change lives over the next decade, and I will make sure it is spent where local people need it most.

“I fought to secure this funding, but the decisions about how it is used must come from the people who live here. I will keep standing up for South Stanley, so every penny delivers for our community.”

Bishop Auckland's Sam Rushworth has also welcomed funding for Crook North and Tow Law. The Labour MP added: "This investment belongs to the people of Crook, Howden-Le-Wear, Roddymoor and Tow Law. It’s your town, your priorities and now your decisions, thanks to this Labour Government."

"This is the difference a Labour Government makes,” he said. “No more empty promises — just real investment and real change for our towns.”

Sir Keir added: “We’re investing in the UK’s future, by backing the true patriots that build our communities up in neighbourhoods across every corner of the country. Because it’s people who bring pride, hope and life to our communities.

“This is a huge investment, but what matters most is who decides how it’s spent: the neighbours, volunteers and parents who know their communities best – the people with real skin in the game.”

Elsewhere in the North East, communities in Newcastle, Sunderland, Stockton and Middlesbrough will also benefit from new funding.