The Pride in Place Programme (PiPP) Board for Crook North and Tow Law met on Friday 5 June 2026 to discuss the ongoing regeneration programme. The meeting's agenda focused on the governance of the programme, updates on its progress, and the proposed geographical boundaries for its initiatives.

Programme Update and Governance

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a comprehensive update on the Pride in Place Programme (PiPP). This government initiative aims to support community-focused regeneration across Great Britain, with Crook North/Tow Law being one of four selected neighbourhoods in County Durham. The programme is set to receive up to £20 million in funding over 10 years, intended to empower local residents to shape their neighbourhood's future through transformative projects.

The report pack outlined key dates and milestones for the programme, including the submission of a 10-year Vision and Pride in Place Plan to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) by 28 November 2026. The strategic objectives of the programme are to build stronger communities, create thriving places, and empower residents to take back control of their areas.

Discussions also covered the governance arrangements for the Board, including the recruitment of a Chair and Board members. The report highlighted that the Board must comprise a majority of local residents (at least 51%) to ensure it is resident-led. The terms of reference for the Board were also under consideration, with proposed amendments to include wording on emergency meetings and to ensure community representation.

The report pack indicated that engagement with residents, community groups, and local schools had commenced, with feedback suggesting a desire for improvements such as planting programmes, better park equipment for older children, enhanced walking and cycling routes, improved bus services, and increased parking provision.

Boundary Review

A key item for discussion was the proposed revision of the programme's geographical boundary. The report pack noted that neighbouring villages such as Sunniside, Stanley Crook, Billy Row, and Crook Town Centre were initially excluded but were being considered for inclusion. The potential impact of including these larger communities on the demographics and population was to be assessed by the corporate research team. The Board was scheduled to confirm neighbourhood boards and any proposals to alter the 'default' boundary by 17 July 2026.

Approved Interventions and Next Steps

The meeting was also set to review the approved intervention themes for the Pride in Place Programme. These themes are designed to be flexible and cover areas such as regeneration, high streets, heritage, housing, work and skills, cohesion, community power, health and wellbeing, transport, safety, and education.

The next steps outlined in the report pack included confirming neighbourhood boards and boundary proposals, presenting a draft submission of the 10-year vision and plan by October 2026, and submitting the final plan to the MHCLG by 28 November 2026. Engagement activities were planned to continue, with the Lead Officer set to amend the Terms of Reference and confirm the impact of proposed boundary changes. A Capacity Fund Application Form was also to be produced.

The report pack also mentioned that an additional board meeting was to be held in May to welcome new community members, as these representatives had not yet been appointed. The importance of showing improvements as soon as possible was stressed, with a commitment to cross-checking projects to avoid overlap.