Sunderland Council Lands £20M Grant For Washington
Written by James Nicod on 6th March 2025
Sunderland City Council has been awarded up to twenty million pounds in funding to regenerate Washington, through the governments Plan for Neighbourhoods scheme.
The scheme aims to give councils money to invest in the most deprived areas of the country, with many of the targeted areas being in the north.
Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary, and Deputy Prime Minister, Angela Rayner said in a statement: “Communities across the UK have so much to offer – rich cultural capital, unique heritage but most of all, an understanding of their own neighbourhood.
“Our Plan for Neighbourhoods puts local people in the driving seat of their potential, having control of where the Whitehall cash goes – what issues they want to tackle, where they want to regenerate and what growth they want turbocharge.”
Washington is just one of the many areas in the North East getting access to government funds, with others including Blyth, Spennymoor, Darlington and Hartlepool.
Sunderland City Council said in a statement: “As part of a long term plan for towns, the government announced a long term investment programme into local towns, including Washington.
“As a result, Washington will receive £20 million over 10 years, with the funding to be spend on three key areas; crime, transport an improving town centres.
“We will be working closely with partners and residents in Washington to create the plan for the town.”
75 other towns around the UK will also be receiving funding, with a total of one and a half billion pounds being invested.
Councillor Beth Jones, cabinet member for Communities, Culture and Tourism said: “This announcement is very welcome. Washington celebrated the 60th anniversary of its new town status last year and what’s been announced for us now is a package of funding that’s going to help shape the next 60 years.
“We want to take this opportunity to work closely with residents, to create an environment where people from across Washington can all see and feel change around them that is improving their lives.
“ Working together as a community, with residents and key partner organisations in the area, I’m excited to see how we can create new projects through this Plan for Neighbourhoods that will make a real difference for Washington.”
