North East Mayor Backs £18m Funding Boost for South Shields Town Centre College Plans

A major project to transform South Shields town centre has received a multi-million-pound funding boost.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Combined Authority have agreed in principle to award up to £18.2m towards the relocation of South Tyneside College and world-renowned South Shields Marine School.

The cash, from the Early Capital and Investment Fund, will support the college's move from its current Westoe site into the heart of the town centre, with a state-of-the-art 14,000 sqm campus, close to South Shields Interchange, bringing thousands of students and staff into the town centre every day.

The funding will enable a start on site later this year, with a view to the new college being ready to welcome students in the 2027 September intake.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "Bringing South Tyneside College and the world-renowned Marine School to the town centre will transform South Shields and be a catalyst for new investment, new business and new jobs in and around King Street.

"That's why we have agreed £18.2 million for a state-of-the art new campus which will be a cornerstone for South Shields town centre for decades to come, attracting students from across the North East and the world.

"This project has been talked about for years and the site on King Street is ready to go. We are making it happen, so we can get on with the job of bringing new life to our town centres and high streets."

The new campus will close to sustainable transport links for students and staff, helping towards the region's environmental targets.

In public consultation carried out by South Tyneside Council in 2022, more than 80 per cent of people who responded supported the idea of the college relocation, believing it would lead to a livelier town centre and help to sustain new and existing businesses.

And the Association of Colleges and the High Streets Commission have both found that colleges play an important role in driving footfall.

Cllr Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: "This is the final piece of the funding jigsaw, which means the next step will be work getting underway.

"Our regeneration ambitions are focused on diversifying the town centre so that it is not solely reliant on retail. This development is going to bring in thousands of additional people, boosting footfall and delivering a new sense of vitality.

"We, and our partners at the college, are going to create a modern campus fit for the future, giving young people from across South Tyneside and beyond the skills they need to access jobs in leading industries such as the green economy."

Planning permission has been granted for the 14,000 sqm main building, student accommodation block and the refurbishment of a listed building on Barrington Street, and Hebburn-based contractor Castle Building has been appointed.

The main building will be accessed on King Street, with a double-height glass atrium behind the reception entrance.  A second entrance will be provided along Barrington Street, linking the building to the main campus, and a refurbished Grade-II-listed building will accommodate staff facilities, bringing a vacant building back into use. 

Dr Lindsey Whiterod CBE, Chief Executive of South Tyneside College, said: "Our relocation will play a key role in boosting local business, equipping people with the work and life skills they need to succeed and supporting the economic growth of the region.

"It will ensure the long-term viability of the college and our internationally-respected Marine School and generations of future learners will benefit from the most modern and high-quality facilities."

The NECA funding is in addition to £20m of government regeneration funding awarded to South Tyneside Council to revitalise South Shields town centre and riverside, and £21.9m to Tyne Coast College from the Department for Education's FE Capital Transformation Fund.