A new timelapse video captures the remarkable progress made during the first year of construction on South Tyneside College’s new town centre campus.
The footage showcases the scale and pace of the £95 million development, charting its transformation over the past 12 months as work continues on the future home of South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School.
The video highlights key milestones in the construction of the 15,000sqm campus, from the extensive groundworks and foundations through to the erection of the structural steel frame, made up of 610 tonnes of steel and more than 27,000 individual components.
As construction has progressed, the campus has continued to take shape with external walls, cladding, glazing and roofing now well underway. Inside the building, work has also begun on creating the modern teaching, learning and social spaces that will support thousands of students for generations to come.
Alongside the new build, careful restoration work continues on the historic Barrington Street building, which will become an integral part of the campus. Specialist restoration includes repairs to the stonework and roof, refurbishment of the original windows and a comprehensive programme of internal improvements, ensuring the listed building is preserved while providing a modern space for learning.
Once complete, the new campus will provide outstanding facilities for learners, support employers through skills development and strengthen links with industry. Bringing South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School into the heart of South Shields will also create new opportunities for students, businesses and the wider community.
Dr Lindsey Whiterod CBE, Chief Executive of Tyne Coast College, said:
This timelapse powerfully demonstrates the scale, ambition and pace of progress we are delivering for South Tyneside. Over the past year, we have seen this landmark development move from groundwork to a visible presence on the town skyline. Our new campus will provide outstanding facilities for learners, support vital skills development for employers, and play a central role in the regeneration of South Shields town centre. It represents a long-term investment in our communities, creating new opportunities for students, businesses and residents alike.
The new campus is being delivered through a partnership between Tyne Coast College and South Tyneside Council, with construction led by award-winning contractor Castle. Funding has been provided by Tyne Coast College, the North East Mayoral Combined Authority, the Department for Education and the UK Government.
Cllr David Royal, Lead Member for Economic Growth, Investment and Regeneration at South Tyneside Council, said:
Watching this transformation unfold over the past year has been really exciting. The timelapse footage really brings to life the scale of progress that's being made and how quickly this new campus is taking shape. This is a once-in-a-generation investment, which will diversify the town centre and will be a major driver of footfall, helping to support existing businesses, attract new businesses and bring forward future investment.
Chris Meadowcroft, Operations Director at Castle, added:
The new college will not only be a unique location for learning and training, it will, by its huge presence, be a catalyst for the regeneration of South Shields town centre and, as such, the build stage thoroughly deserves to be captured in full on film. There have already been some spectacular moments during the past 12 months, not least the erection of the steel frame around which we are now forming the envelope of the building. It was an important milestone for our team on-site and it is great to know that it is captured in the timelapse footage. We are excited about the many other landmark events for the project coming up in the months ahead.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:
I hear all of the time that our communities are tired of seeing our high streets boarded up and lacking life. That's why it's great to see progress being made at the new South Tyneside College site just one year on since work began. Not only will it help train our next generation and support local people into good jobs, it'll also mean the nearby shops, pubs and cafés will have more visitors – giving a real boost to King Street. We're absolutely bursting with pride in our region and I want to bring that back to our high streets.
The new South Tyneside College campus is expected to welcome its first cohort of students in September 2027.
