'It was a wasteland when I was a child - now it's a place you want to be a part of' - County Durham town's redevelopment hailed

The regeneration project in Bishop Auckland is being celebrated as a catalyst for the rejuvenation of the town centre.

Investors and political figures involved with the ambitious plans to breathe new life into the area are optimistic. The scheme includes the creation of new public areas and the transformation of abandoned shops into leisure facilities and residential units.

Work has already begun at Kingsway Square, which aims to provide an inviting entrance to the high street. The redesign is expected to draw more visitors to Newgate Street, the principal shopping thoroughfare of the town.

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Following the completion of demolition, civil engineering efforts have now commenced on the site.

Local business owner Becci Nye, who runs Fifteas Vintage Tearoom and has observed the town's downturn over the years, is hopeful that the redevelopment signifies a resurgence for Bishop Auckland.

She commented: "We had so many promises years ago about what was going to happen, but now we can start to see things changing. This was a wasteland when I was a child and I remember thinking 'this is awful'. We are going to get so much more footfall into the town, and this is a place you want to be a part of."

Newgate Street's deserted shoe shop and pub have undergone a transformation, becoming the Jord restaurant run by Masterchef contestant Mike Bartley. Not too far off, the former Burtons store has been rebirthed as a pub, to be operated by local brewery Caps Off.

Other developments in the town include the construction of a new STACK establishment and improvements to Fore Bondgate. Victoria Avenue's Masonic Hall is slated for conversion into 10 flats with an art space and office on the main floor, anticipated to open in 2025.

This revitalisation effort is part of a £12 million collaboration between The Auckland Project, a regeneration charity; Durham County Council, and private sector developers. Funding sources include the government's Future High Streets Fund and Stronger Towns Fund, under the umbrella of the levelling up agenda.

The deputy leader of Durham County Council, Councillor Richard Bell, views this redevelopment as tangible evidence of levelling up in progress. Despite facing local criticism over slow progress and perceived preference for areas with Conservative MPs, Cllr Bell defends these substantial projects like Bishop Auckland's transformation, which require time to be brought forward.

He urged patience, stating: "People have criticised levelling up but it takes time to bring a lot of these projects forward. It's worth remembering that there's a total of £104 million coming into Bishop Auckland through various funds and investments."

Graham Thomas, a private investor spearheading the town's redevelopment, has expressed his commitment to revitalising the area and positively impacting the community.

"I live in Bishop Auckland and during Covid I saw there was an opportunity to invest. I've got two young children and I thought 'what do I want their futures to be? '. I've lived here for 10 years and it seemed to be going downhill before Covid. I wanted to make a difference for the town and the futures of residents."

Bishop Auckland's town centre has faced a continuous decline, with rising prices and economic pressures leading to an increase in vacant shops. The exit of key national retailers has further diminished the vibrancy of the local trade, leaving once bustling shopping districts looking worn and in desperate need of rejuvenation.

In a bid to breathe new life into the town centre, local independent businesses are now being given priority and encouraged to set up shop in the revamped area. "We won't allow high street brands because we want local people involved," Mr Thomas declared.

"It's about local residents and not about big brands making more money. If you look at Barnard Castle, it's a good example of local independents thriving."

Cllr Bell urged: "Use your high street. We want people to stay here and for it to be a key destination town. Think about it as a place not just for shopping but for leisure activities and meeting people. We can breathe new life into Newgate Street and we want to make the high street the focus of the town."

Edward Perry, CEO at the Auckland Project, highlighted the town's growing reputation as a foodie destination.

"Bishop Auckland is attracting foodies," he stated. "There's the food festival this weekend and a whole host of restaurants. We're getting a reputation for our hospitality. We want to bring people to the town, whether that is for events or the venues we have."

Those involved in the redevelopment are hopeful that the Bishop Auckland model could serve as a blueprint for rejuvenating other County Durham towns.

Mr Perry further commented: "Rather than bemoaning out-of-town retail or that the high street is dying, this is the chance to repurpose the high street and bring more independent retailers in."

"We can be the exemplar town centre and we need to shout loud about the successes here, so others can take inspiration. But it's not going to be easy, it will take a lot of time and hard work but I think we can be optimistic and proud of what we're doing."

Ms Nye, a cafe owner in the town, agrees that revitalising the town centre is a frequent talking point with her customers, yet she hopes it can reclaim its once popular 'Bish Vegas' moniker. She said: "I hope the town is revived. As a kid it was a thriving town. Town centres need to be reinvented and hopefully this is the start of positive change."