Ambition for Wallsend gets recognition

Wallsend High Street transformation recognised in prestigious Let’s Celebrate Towns competition

The engagement around the regeneration of Wallsend is beginning to pay off. The feedback to the regeneration proposals in the Ambition for Wallsend, which aimed at creating a vibrant and connected town that is attractive to residents, visitors and employers has been taken on board. Wallsend has been shortlisted for Visa and the British Retail Consortium’s Let’s Celebrate Towns competition 2025, in the High Street Transformation category.

A prestigious national awards ceremony held at the House of Lords has recognised North Tyneside Council’s innovative package of business support for Wallsend town centre in combination with The Wallsend High Street Transformation. This is part of the Town and High Streets Innovation Programme, funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by the North East Combined Authority.

The North Tyneside town is among 50 on the shortlist of towns from across the UK that are building thriving local economies, with six category winners set to receive £20,000 to fund a local community initiative.

Initiatives that led to recognition

1. Business support offered

Wallsend impressed with its targeted business support including the exceptional work of town centre liaison officer Wayne Young, who has played an instrumental part in attracting and supporting 19 new businesses to the town centre since starting in 2023. His alter ego, Roman soldier Max Maximus, can be seen helping promote business initiatives, with a nod to Wallsend’s rich history.

2. High Street Transformation board set up

North Tyneside Council set up a High Street Transformation board for Wallsend in 2023, bringing together residents, voluntary organisations, businesses, council officers and councillors for regular meetings. At that time there was a high level of vacant retail premises, around 15 percent, and concerns over the look and feel of the high street.

3. Historic Shop Front Shutter Trail

One innovative solution is a series of 18 historic shop shutters around the town, to combat the shutters-down feeling during the day, when businesses such as takeaways are closed. Working with Wallsend Local History Society, these now form a Historic Shutter Trail which celebrates Wallsend’s proud heritage.

Investment in shop fronts saw grants of up to £5,000 on offer to improve shutters, signage and accessibility. Every business along the high street had their signage washed and the Council painted street furniture and bollards to bring back a sense of pride.

4. Pop up shops in the Forum

The Council’s business support team has hosted two new markets inside the Forum Shopping Centre, and taken on an 18-month lease of a vacant unit to create a pop-up shop, giving independent businesses a chance to test their retailing skills for free, with guidance and support.

5. Community What's Up Group developed

Community spirit has been strengthened by setting up a popular What’s App group for Wallsend businesses to share information and support, and six school safaris have seen local school children spending time in local businesses.

6. Business Factory sessions in Library

Regular sessions at Wallsend Library hosted by The Business Factory offer a Welcome Toolkit to Starting a Business, with support to develop a business plan, marketing strategy and financial management skills. Four businesses have been helped with fully-funded staff placements through North Tyneside Council’s Employability and Skills service.

7. Sustainable transport link

A sustainable transport route between Segedunum Roman Fort and the town’s Metro and bus stations, featuring public artworks, an improved children’s play area and a new crossing point on the main road.

8. Digital innovations

The Digital Wallsend Programme in 2024 provided local businesses with access to digital tools, including digital health checks, tailored support and digital marketing campaigns.

Other digital innovations include public wifi, new CCTV, an interactive kiosk in The Forum shopping centre to promote local activities, and the Shop North Tyneside App used by 76 businesses in Wallsend. The Roaming Romans app leads visitors on an interactive heritage trail round the town, with 10,000 downloads in 2024. A new augmented reality experience outside Segedunum called Meet the Romans is set to follow in 2025.

9. Artwork

The people of Wallsend have been working with mural and graffiti artist Mark One87 to create a stunning bespoke artwork in their town’s Metro underpass.

The design is inspired by community workshops with Richardson Dees Primary School, Move It Studios and North East Family Fitness, where Mark asked local people to help him represent the heritage and identity of Wallsend.

Wallsend High Street transformation recognised in prestigious Let’s Celebrate Towns competition

The engagement around the regeneration of Wallsend is beginning to pay off. The feedback to the regeneration proposals in the Ambition for Wallsend, which aimed at creating a vibrant and connected town that is attractive to residents, visitors and employers has been taken on board. Wallsend has been shortlisted for Visa and the British Retail Consortium’s Let’s Celebrate Towns competition 2025, in the High Street Transformation category.

A prestigious national awards ceremony held at the House of Lords has recognised North Tyneside Council’s innovative package of business support for Wallsend town centre in combination with The Wallsend High Street Transformation. This is part of the Town and High Streets Innovation Programme, funded by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, administered by the North East Combined Authority.

The North Tyneside town is among 50 on the shortlist of towns from across the UK that are building thriving local economies, with six category winners set to receive £20,000 to fund a local community initiative.

Initiatives that led to recognition

1. Business support offered

Wallsend impressed with its targeted business support including the exceptional work of town centre liaison officer Wayne Young, who has played an instrumental part in attracting and supporting 19 new businesses to the town centre since starting in 2023. His alter ego, Roman soldier Max Maximus, can be seen helping promote business initiatives, with a nod to Wallsend’s rich history.

2. High Street Transformation board set up

North Tyneside Council set up a High Street Transformation board for Wallsend in 2023, bringing together residents, voluntary organisations, businesses, council officers and councillors for regular meetings. At that time there was a high level of vacant retail premises, around 15 percent, and concerns over the look and feel of the high street.

3. Historic Shop Front Shutter Trail

One innovative solution is a series of 18 historic shop shutters around the town, to combat the shutters-down feeling during the day, when businesses such as takeaways are closed. Working with Wallsend Local History Society, these now form a Historic Shutter Trail which celebrates Wallsend’s proud heritage.

Investment in shop fronts saw grants of up to £5,000 on offer to improve shutters, signage and accessibility. Every business along the high street had their signage washed and the Council painted street furniture and bollards to bring back a sense of pride.

4. Pop up shops in the Forum

The Council’s business support team has hosted two new markets inside the Forum Shopping Centre, and taken on an 18-month lease of a vacant unit to create a pop-up shop, giving independent businesses a chance to test their retailing skills for free, with guidance and support.

5. Community What's Up Group developed

Community spirit has been strengthened by setting up a popular What’s App group for Wallsend businesses to share information and support, and six school safaris have seen local school children spending time in local businesses.

6. Business Factory sessions in Library

Regular sessions at Wallsend Library hosted by The Business Factory offer a Welcome Toolkit to Starting a Business, with support to develop a business plan, marketing strategy and financial management skills. Four businesses have been helped with fully-funded staff placements through North Tyneside Council’s Employability and Skills service.

7. Sustainable transport link

A sustainable transport route between Segedunum Roman Fort and the town’s Metro and bus stations, featuring public artworks, an improved children’s play area and a new crossing point on the main road.

8. Digital innovations

The Digital Wallsend Programme in 2024 provided local businesses with access to digital tools, including digital health checks, tailored support and digital marketing campaigns.

Other digital innovations include public wifi, new CCTV, an interactive kiosk in The Forum shopping centre to promote local activities, and the Shop North Tyneside App used by 76 businesses in Wallsend. The Roaming Romans app leads visitors on an interactive heritage trail round the town, with 10,000 downloads in 2024. A new augmented reality experience outside Segedunum called Meet the Romans is set to follow in 2025.

9. Artwork

The people of Wallsend have been working with mural and graffiti artist Mark One87 to create a stunning bespoke artwork in their town’s Metro underpass.

The design is inspired by community workshops with Richardson Dees Primary School, Move It Studios and North East Family Fitness, where Mark asked local people to help him represent the heritage and identity of Wallsend.