Council bosses have signed off on £1.5m in Government funding to improve public spaces throughout Gateshead.

Gateshead Council’s cabinet approved the receipt and distribution of £1.5m in Pride in Place funding on Tuesday morning. The cash will allow for “immediate work”, according to council documents, to improve public spaces over two years, concluding in March 2027.

The local authority will be required to submit an update on how much has been spent in May 2026, October 2026 and June 2027. According to the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government: “It sets out how we will deliver a step change in how we support communities across the country and provide long-term funding to the most doubly disadvantaged areas.”

The money is reserved to improve public parks, increase footfall in town centres, and improve street scenes including back lanes.

The list of projects approved to receive a share of the fund is as follows:

Investment in Saltwell Park – £150,000
Improving play parks and public spaces – £300,000
Improving local town centres – £360,000
Public art across the Gateshead- £150,000
Public art in Gateshead town centre – £150,000
Investments in community projects – £340,000
Improvements to local environment highlight – £50,000
Back lane improvements – £30,000
Environmental improvements across Gateshead – £100,000

MP for Gateshead Central and Whickham, Mark Ferguson said: “I’m delighted to have secured £1.5m from the Government’s PiP impact fund. After years of Tory austerity we now have the chance to make some visible changes in Gateshead and the council must now listen to residents about their local priorities.

“This comes in addition to the £20m I secured for Beacon Lough and Wrekenton, it shows this Labour Government is putting communities like ours first after years of neglect.”