North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, joined local businesses on a sneak peek tour of progress on Tyne Coast College’s transformational new campus development in the heart of South Shields town centre.
South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School, part of Tyne Coast College, were delighted to welcome Mayor Kim, alongside council representatives and local businesses to see first hand the progress being made on the multi-million-pound development.
The visit provided an opportunity for guests to hear more about the scale and ambition of the project, its role in supporting the town’s wider regeneration, and its long-term benefits for learners, employers and the wider community.
The redevelopment, which includes £18M of investment from the North East Mayor, will create a new 15,000 sqm campus for the college, alongside additional facilities and new halls of residence.
Dr Lindsey Whiterod CBE, Chief Executive of Tyne Coast College said:
It was a pleasure to welcome the Mayor to our new campus development and to showcase the progress being made on this exciting project. Having local businesses and council colleagues with us also reflected the strength of partnership behind this investment and the shared ambition for South Shields. This new campus will transform opportunities for our learners, support employers with the skills they need, and play a major role in the ongoing regeneration of the town centre.
Set to open in 2027, the development is funded by the Department for Education, the North East Mayor, South Tyneside Council and the college and is being delivered by award-winning construction company, Castle.
North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness said:
Local people across the region are tired of seeing their high streets dry up, businesses close down, only to be replaced by vape shops, so we’re stepping in to turn things around. South Tyneside College’s new campus on the high street will be incredible for learners, but it’ll also bring thousands of students, staff and visitors into South Shields town centre every single week. It means a thriving town centre, that supports jobs for local people and that’s why it was an important project for me to drive forward. We’re absolutely bursting with pride in our region and I want to bring that back to our high streets.
Also on site was Cllr Karen Pittuck, Lead Member for Highways, Community Safety and Neighbourhoods, South Tyneside Council. She said:
It was great to see first-hand the progress being made on this impressive new campus. This is such an important development for our town centre, not just in terms of education, skills and training, but in how it will improve the look and feel of the area and bring new life into our high street. As cabinet member for neighbourhoods, I’m particularly pleased to see how this investment is reshaping a key part of the town, boosting footfall and helping to support local businesses. It’s an exciting step forward in our wider ambitions to create a more vibrant, welcoming place for residents, students and visitors.
