Newton Aycliffe West Improvements

Working collectively with the community and partners we have established a community-led partnership for the estate. Our constant conversation with the estate will expand to explore everything place-based, from homes to the environment and from jobs to financial wellbeing.

What's happening on the estate?

The Western Partnership is a group of organisations and residents who have come together to improve lives on the Western Estate and have been meeting since 2019 after successfully securing a grant from The National Lottery.

The Lottery Funded Community Development worker Katie has completed her first year, but there is so much more to do in 2024/25. Here are some of the ongoing projects:

  • Groundwork North East and Cumbria has produced their pathway and protection of open spaces plan for the estate
  • Durham County Council’s Community Action Team (CAT) will be working on the estate with the community and other local partners to tackle local housing, environmental and antisocial behaviour issues (June to September 2024)
  • The Police and partners are working on a media campaign to reassure residents that they are working together to help tackle anti-social behaviour on the estate and across Newton Aycliffe
  • Lifeline Community Action will be working with partners to establish a ‘one stop’ community advice and support hub in the town centre
  • We will continue employability and cost of living support

Visit Lifeline Community Action

A message from Community Development worker, Katie

"It has been a wonderful 22 months working in the Western Area of Newton Aycliffe. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the needs of the area and support many local people from the Estate. The Western Community Partnership has grown from strength to strength with new partners and residents helping it to become the best it can be addressing local issues, supporting local people, and creating lasting impactful interventions. Come down memory lane with me for a look back at some of the highlights from my time here working so closely with our partners. From Community litter picks to family sessions, well- being sessions and not forgetting the family fun days! Thank you for always making me feel welcome in the local community, I am going to miss you all, we do know there is work still to do and we can achieve that by working together.

We, as a community and partnership have carried out 20 community litter picks, collected 333 bags of rubbish off the streets and carried out 18 family community craft and Sports sessions over the 22 months, with 30 children and 20 adults. A huge thanks to DCC sports and leisure team who provided us with free sessions!"

What difference have we made to the estate in 2024

The following positive impacts have been developed and delivered by the Western partnership in the last year:

​ASB - Reduced reported ASB by 46%

  • Delivered 6 newsletters to all homes on the estate and increased our Facebook usage by 25%
  • Invested over £1M into the estate with new kitchens, tree planting, pedestrian bridge improvements, youth work and school holiday activities
  • 12 new activities started on the estate accessed by over 230 people including parent and toddler group, coffee mornings, walks, craft sessions, wellbeing for life and family sessions
  • Monthly litter picks (average of 15 bags per session collected), 29 new trees planted, monthly multi-partnered estate inspections
  • 19 residents helped into full time employment
  • Cost of living support though foodbanks, the credit union, clothes banks, green doctor support with energy bills and our financial inclusion team support with benefits

Our local offers

We listened, We acted

We worked with you to help us shape four pledges. These pledges are known as local offers and we have been working collectively to achieve these going forward.

Western Estate - local offers

Community engagement

We can only make plans for further improvements with your help.

We are working to develop new ways of doing this. If you would like to speak to us and you haven't been able to, let us know and together we find the best way to do this.

Get involved Follow our Western Facebook page