North Tyneside Council
North Tyneside has many attractions, which make it the pride of the North East coast. These include award-winning golden sand beaches, the Rising Sun Country Park, Segedunum Roman Fort, part of the Hadrian's Wall World Heritage site, and Stephenson Railway Museum.
The borough also has an enviable world-class events programme that draws visitors from far and wide. It features the annual Mouth of the Tyne Festival, hosting performers of national and international renown; the North Tyneside International Youth Football Tournament; national surfing activities; and the newly established unique extreme sports event, Xperience.
The £8million redevelopment of The PLAYHOUSE is part of the North Tyneside Council's commitment to work with partners to establish the borough as the 'Cultural Coast' with an offer including arts, entertainment and heritage stretching from Wallsend to Whitley Bay.
The council's Coastal Zone regeneration board has brought together a range of partners to deliver a masterplan that co-ordinates the regeneration of whole areas from St Mary's Lighthouse, down to North Shields Fish Quay.
Whitley Bay, a seaside town popular with generations of visitors, is being regenerated in a £64million scheme. As well as The PLAYHOUSE, the initiative includes Waves leisure pool, a joint service centre, skatepark, award-winning playsite and the Spanish City Dome - a Grade Two listed building.
North Tyneside Council has improved rapidly in recent years. The Audit Commission has officially recognised the council as a three star authority, commenting that it is improving well.
www.northtyneside.gov.uk
The re-generation of the PLAYHOUSE has been part funded by the European Regional Development Fund, of which North Tyneside Council has received a contribution of up to £700,000.
