Boards to decide on £20m fund priorities

Stanley is among areas set to receive government funding

People living in County Durham are to be asked to help decide how £20m should be spent in their communities.

Stanley, Peterlee, Crook and Tow Law are among areas to be awarded money each year for a decade as part of the government's Pride in Place programme.

Regeneration plans will be developed in collaboration with each community to deliver local priorities, Durham County Council said.

Neighbourhood boards will be established with representatives from town councils, community groups, businesses and public services working under the county council's co-ordination.

Durham council will administer the fund, manage all financial governance and submit regeneration plans to the government for approval.

However, Councillor Karen Allison, cabinet member for leisure, tourism and high streets, claimed the scheme would not provide a simple fix.

"Although this funding will boost our work in regenerating these areas, it doesn't undo the lack of government support for our high streets over many years," she said.

"Until we can be honest that the national funding system is struggling, councils like ours will remain in an extremely difficult position."

The first substantive delivery payments are expected in March 2027, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.