South Shields 365

The South Shields 365 plan proposes a radical town centre redevelopment with a new retail quarter in the Fowler Street West area. The scheme will create a new cinema, library, retail and leisure facilities as well as a quality hotel and new housing. The Council is also working with Nexus to bring improvements to the Metro system along with a new transport interchange.

In the past the town has had three distinct areas – the seafront, town centre and Riverside – and South Shields 365 will bring these assets together to make it a place of year-round cultural, leisure and retail activity.

A new cultural centre, 'The Word', opened in October 2016. The three storey, circular building overlooks the town’s refurbished Market Place and incorporates a library and digital media space as well as a computer gaming area, an immersive storytelling area, OpenZone IT suite, café and a rooftop terrace providing stunning views over the river.

Construction has commenced on a new transport interchange, which will provide a striking point of arrival into South Shields for both residents and visitors, and a number of sites in the wider town centre have been earmarked for leisure purposes.