New chair appointed for Bishop Auckland board

Shaun Hope, principal and chief executive of Bishop Auckland College, has been appointed as the new independent chair of the Bishop Auckland Stronger Town Board.

A board which oversees an investment programme for Bishop Auckland has appointed a new chair.

Shaun Hope, principal and chief executive of Bishop Auckland College, has been appointed as the new independent chair of the Bishop Auckland Stronger Town Board.

Set up by Durham County Council, the board is made up of community representatives and individuals from local businesses and other organisations.

It oversees the delivery of the Bishop Auckland Town Investment Plan and how £33.2m awarded through the Government’s Stronger Town Fund is spent.

Shaun will be following outgoing chair Alan Boddy, who is the current chair of the Spennymoor Stronger Town Board and has been acting as interim chair in Bishop Auckland.

Mr Hope said: “I am delighted to take up the role of chair of the Stronger Town Board. It is an extremely exciting time for Bishop Auckland, and I am really looking forward to working with the board and the wider community to make sure we deliver for the town.”

Cllr Lyndsey Fox, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “Being independent chair is an important role in ensuring our vision and investment plan is delivered.

“Shaun brings a wealth of experience and expertise, and his leadership will be instrumental in guiding the board through its next phase as we continue to regenerate the town and transform it into a thriving place for residents and visitors.

“We’d also like to express our thanks to Alan Boddy for his time and professionalism as interim chair.”

The board was established in February 2020 and has made significant progress in prioritising funding for transformational projects in the town.

Schemes that it has been directly involved in include the Springboard to Employment scheme; bringing empty properties back into use, such the transformation of the former McIntyre building; road and junction capacity improvements; and the creation of heritage walking and cycling routes.

Regeneration in the town has also been supported by match funding from the council and private investment, as well as the Future High Streets Fund.

To stay informed on regeneration projects, visit www.bishopaucklandregeneration.com