SAM Rushworth, Member of Parliament for Bishop Auckland, has announced a major funding boost for Crook and Tow Law, securing £20 million in long-term investment through Labour’s Pride in Place programme.
The funding — £2 million per year over the next decade — marks a significant step forward in delivering real, lasting change for communities that have too often been overlooked. “This is the difference a Labour Government makes,” said Sam Rushworth MP. “No more empty promises — just real investment and real change for our towns.”
What sets this funding apart is that it will be shaped and directed by the local community. Local residents will have the power to decide how the money is spent, whether that’s improving local parks, revitalising the high street, bringing empty buildings back into use, or investing in community facilities.
“This investment belongs to the people of Crook, Howden-Le-Wear, Roddymoor and Tow Law,” Rushworth added. “It’s your town, your priorities and now your decisions, thanks to this Labour Government.”
Baroness Hilary Armstrong, Chair of the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods, said: “I’m delighted to see Crook North and Tow Law receive funding from the government as part of the Pride in Place programme. Sam Rushworth, the local Member of Parliament, has campaigned tirelessly for his constituency to get the investment it deserves. I know from all my years representing Crook North and Tow Law what a difference this funding will make to residents.”
The Pride in Place programme is a key part of Labour’s mission to rebuild Britain from the ground up, starting with the towns and communities that have been left behind for far too long.
In fact, three areas in County Durham are set to benefit from £20m each in funding to help the regeneration of high streets and community infrastructure. Peterlee East; Stanley South as well as Crook North and Tow Law, which will all receive the new funding and support over the next decade, helping the management and delivery of local investment projects. It forms part of new support for the government’s Pride in Place programme, which will see up to £5bn invested over 10 years in 250 places across the UK.
Neighbourhood Boards will be established as part of the programme to oversee the funding and ensure local people are at the centre of developing their Regeneration Plan, in partnership with Durham County Council. The support will be a big boost to the council’s own development of Strategic Place Plans (SPPs) which places communities at the heart of identifying the opportunities and issues in their local areas by working with the community to look at how areas can be revitalised.
The SPP projects will be developed to ensure local people, businesses, and stakeholders can all shape the town’s future vision, which will help write action plans tailored to its needs. It is hoped the Pride in Place programme will begin to mobilise through 2026 with first substantive delivery payments being made in March 2027.
Cllr Karen Allison, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for leisure, tourism and high street, said: “This funding will be a boost to our work in regenerating these areas and will no doubt be welcomed by residents, but it doesn’t undo the lack of government support for our high streets over many years.
“Until we can be honest that the national funding system is struggling, councils like ours will remain in an extremely difficult position. There needs to be more help for us to reduce our deficit and support children with special educational needs. Our Strategic Place Plans are already encouraging the community to get involved in identifying issues and regeneration opportunities across the county with areas such as Stanley currently underway. Meanwhile, Crook and Peterlee are due to commence in the coming months, which will see them get their own SPPs.
“This funding support will, nonetheless, provide help for the delivery of each community’s priorities.”
The nationwide Pride in Place programme will deliver record investment and support over 330 communities in total. It aims to tackle deprivation and regional inequality through wide-ranging action, including:
- Community Right to Buy: handing local people the power to buy beloved assets, helping residents turn around derelict pubs, create new parks and regenerate treasured spaces in the heart of their communities.
- Compulsory Purchase powers: allowing communities in England to acquire assets like boarded up shops and derelict businesses, allowing new local start-ups to thrive. For larger sites – like disused department stores or abandoned office blocks – it could see new health centres opening, or more housing.
- Power to block unwanted shops: empowering councils in England to say no to new betting shops, vapes stores and fake barbers.
- Giving residents the power: the government will only approve spending if community groups, local organisations and social clubs have been included in decisions on how the money should be spent.
