'Overlooked' areas welcome regeneration boost
BBCResidents and charity workers have welcomed the announcement of a £20m funding boost for their "overlooked" areas.
Walker North in Newcastle is among 25 locations across England selected for the regeneration scheme Trailblazer Neighbourhoods.
Each will receive £20m investment over 10 years beginning in April 2026, including Thorntree in Middlesbrough, Central Stockton and Portrack, as well as Barrow Central in Cumbria.
Walker resident Alistair Ralston said the funding boost was welcome news in an area blighted by "anti-social behaviour and drug abuse".
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the money would "boost growth" and "regenerate our communities" in areas with the greatest need.
"It's a good idea, Walker has been an area that's been overlooked," Mr Ralston said.
He added there was a lack of jobs in the town and problems with anti-social behaviour, drug abuse and crime, but it had a "lot of good people".
Hairdresser Vicky Bell said the area needed more investment in housing and £20m was not enough.
"I think it needs to be a lot more," she said. "London gets more than the North East does - the government could send more up here."
Building Futures East runs a community garden and food bank in the area.
Claire Laydon-Baptist, from the charity, said the Trailblazer Neighbourhoods scheme was an "amazing opportunity" but it was vital residents were consulted.
"They know what the issues are and they know what the solutions are," she said.
Regeneration expert, Prof Andy Pike of Newcastle University, said the scheme was a step in the right direction but there were still wider questions about the government's approach.
"It gives a certain amount of funding to relatively small areas - but it's not a huge amount of funding," he said.
"We do have some unanswered questions about whether the overall pot of money will be targeted in local regeneration initiatives and will it be increasing or perhaps even decreasing over time."
MHCLG said youth clubs, libraries and health and wellbeing services could benefit, but that communities would have their say on how the cash was spent.
A spokesperson said: "For too long communities have been starved of investment and left behind and we're taking decisive action to fix this."
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