Bids totalling almost £100 million including £20m for Newton Aycliffe have been submitted to government to help enhance transport, regeneration, town centres and culture across County Durham.
The Joint Administration running Durham County Council has submitted the bids to the Levelling Up Fund for five of its parliamentary constituencies.
If the council is successful, it would see more than £131 million worth of schemes delivered in City of Durham, Easington, North Durham, North West Durham and Sedgefield, that will help to improve transport links, regenerate communities and town centres, and improve access to cultural opportunities.
Following approval from Cabinet in June this year, the bids, which can each feature up to three projects, have been refined to reflect rising costs and fuel prices and support local priorities across the county.
The authority has pledged more than £12.4 million in match funding, including around £2m for Newton Aycliffe, and a further £10 million will be required through its Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).
Cllr Michael Stead, Liberal Democrat councillor for Aycliffe North and Middridge, said: “It’s a real testament to the commitment of the Joint Administration running Durham County Council that we submitted five funding bids last week.
“We are committed to regenerating our communities, including Newton Aycliffe town centre, and securing this funding would help to ensure our town becomes a vibrant place to visit once again. Having already secured £20 million for the Bishop Auckland constituency, securing the same for Aycliffe would be brilliant.”
Councillor Stead adds: “I expect we are the only council in the entire country to have submitted a total of six strong bids. It’s incredible just how much has been achieved in the last year.”
The bid for Sedgefield constituency is centred around improving Newton Aycliffe, after many years of the town centre being neglected.
Councillor Nev Jones (Aycliffe East) explains the Sedgefield constituency bid: “A successful bid would see land and buildings in the town centre repurposed to provide improved flexible spaces, a public transport interchange, helping improve bus services, and reprovision of surface level car parking.”
Liberal Democrat Nev continued: “Travel routes across the town would be enhanced for pedestrians and cyclists, linking employment locations, the railway station, town centre, green spaces, parks and residential areas.”
The bid also proposes new cultural attractions, alongside the existing leisure and library services, to improve the town’s cultural and wellbeing offer.
The Joint Administration now running Durham County Council is made up of various groups including independent councillors, Liberal Democrats, Conservatives, Green and North East Party councillors, all working together to improve the county.
The outcomes of the funding bids they have submitted are expected to be announced in the autumn, with the council continuing to develop projects to ensure programmes can be delivered if the bids are successful.