Castle cracks on with £95m South Shields regeneration

The contractor has started work on the relocation of South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School into the centre of town, delivering a 160,000 sq ft campus on the high street.

Work will also include the conversion of a former BT building on the river into a 125-bed student accommodation block, and the refurbishment of a listed building to provide offices for staff.

As well as bringing both of these vacant buildings in the town centre back into use, the council hopes the relocation of the college from its Westoe site will encourage more footfall and invigorate South Shields.

While planning permission for the campus was granted in 2023, a further application for the riverside student accommodation is due to be decided on by the council soon, with a hopeful start date commencing later this summer.

Castle is aiming to have completed the works in time for students to start at the campus in September 2027.

As for the campus itself, the main building will be accessed on King Street, with a double-height glass atrium behind the reception entrance, and a second entrance on Barrington Street.

The project is a partnership between Tyne Coast College and South Tyneside Council, and is being funded by Tyne Coast College, £18m from the North East Combined Authority, the Department for Education, and UK Government.

Cllr Tracey Dixon, leader of the Council, said: “It is so exciting that we are finally at the point of getting spades in the ground.

“This project has been in the planning for several years and is the cornerstone of our regeneration ambitions.

“Increasing footfall by diversifying the town centre has always been central to our plans, and the college relocation is going to bring in thousands of additional people who will spend time and money here.

“In a couple of years, we will be welcoming students from across the region and beyond to this new, modern campus where they will gain the skills they need to prosper in leading industries like our growing green economy.”

Andrew Dawson, managing director of Castle, said: “As a South Tyneside-based business we understand only too well the huge impact this project will have on the career prospects of people in the borough and the economic benefits it will bring to the town centre.”

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “I promised to breathe new life into the North East’s high streets and town centres. That’s why we agreed £18.2m investment for a state-of-the art new campus for South Tyneside College and the world-renowned Marine School.

“Now we are getting on with the job and delivering for people in South Shields, who will see their town centre transformed. I’m delighted that we have got spades in the ground so quickly.

“Our investment will be a catalyst for jobs, businesses and talent from across the North East and the world to come to South Shields to visit, study and work.”