Prudhoe has taken another step towards securing investment after its Place Plan was approved.

The plan, part of the £21 million Borderlands Place Programme in Northumberland, aims to grow, renew, and connect the town.

The Borderlands Partnership endorsed the plan following a board meeting earlier this month.

The plan includes a series of projects to improve the town, such as boosting Front Street, improving youth and community facilities, and repurposing heritage assets.

Funding will potentially be available from the Borderlands Partnership and Northumberland County Council.

The plan highlights three high street-focused projects that will be further developed to secure Borderlands funding as part of a Town Investment Plan.

This includes the East Centre project, which aims to transform a former Victorian school into a new youth and community centre, with space for training and business units to promote jobs and upskill residents.

There are also plans to revitalise Front Street by filling vacant retail units and bringing a new performance stage to Glade public square.

Councillor Glen Sanderson, leader of Northumberland County Council, said: "This is a great milestone to reach for Prudhoe and would not have been possible without the valuable involvement of the local community in helping the local Place Partnership Group to shape the future of their town."

Councillor Gordon Stewart, county councillor for Prudhoe South, said: "There has been some excellent thinking already to develop the Place Plan based on community input."

Paul Murray, chair of the Place Partnership Group and vice chair of the Prudhoe Community Partnership, said: "It’s great to hear about the sign off for our collective plan for investment in the town.

"I’d like to thank all partners and community members who have helped to shape the plan.

"We're looking forward to developing the project proposals to secure further investment to boost our town."

Prudhoe town councillor and vice chair of the Place Partnership Group, Tracy Gilmore, said: "News of the approval of the Place Plan is fantastic to hear and will help us to move to the next stage of developing projects in readiness to secure capital funding for project delivery."

The Prudhoe Place Partnership Group, comprising private, public, and community partners, developed the plan.

More than 400 people contributed to a public consultation on the plan, with forty per cent of the respondents under the age of 19.