Delivering in local government: How Labour is building a better Britain everywhere

Labour councils up and down the country are helping to improve the lives of their residents.

Week in, week out, Labour councils, working in partnership with the NHS, Homes England and the Labour government, are getting things done for their local communities on the things that matter to local people.

Every week, LabourList brings you a selection of the great work being done by Labour councils and Labour mayors. 

This week we feature:

• 10 affordable family-sized homes completed in Camden
• Plans for upgraded Telford Theatre
• New public square planned for Cardiff city centre 
• New Salford Leisure Centre
• Work begins on Newton Aycliffe industrial scheme
• New St Helens bus service to Liverpool Airport 
• New Dementia Hub launched in Nottingham

Please send news from your council to Paul Dimoldenberg at [email protected].

Camden: 10 affordable family-sized homes completed in Somers Town

Labour’s Camden Council has unveiled ten new family-sized homes on the Godwin and Crowndale Estate in Central Somers Town – the latest housing project to be completed as part of Camden’s Community Investment Programme. Families will move into the ten high-quality, four-bedroom homes, which include a fully wheelchair-accessible property. The project also included wider improvements to the estate including greening and public realm enhancements.

All ten homes on the estate are for social rent and will be managed by Camden Living Housing Association (CLHA) – the new Camden-owned provider of affordable housing and part of the Camden Living Group. As a registered provider, CLHA can access government funding to offer homes at social rent levels, with the long-term aim of Camden Living acquiring up to 1,000 properties. Families living in the existing Godwin and Crowndale Estate will be prioritised for the new homes through the Local Lettings Policy.

Telford and Wrekin: Plans for upgraded Telford Theatre 

Plans have been submitted for an upgraded Telford Theatre design, paving the way for construction works to start this autumn, including a new-look entrance foyer and box office and larger community and rehearsal spaces. The project will see the full demolition and replacement of the theatre which was originally built in the 1960s and was suffering from significant structural defects as well as reaching the end of its building life. The Labour council has agreed with National Grid Electricity Distribution to relocate the substation currently situated at the theatre which will allow the next stage of works to take place.

The theatre rebuild will create 12 full-time jobs, as well as many more part-time roles, and is expected to attract roughly 100,000 visitors across 300 shows annually during its anticipated 60-year life span. New facilities include a 766-seat main auditorium, a separate studio theatre which can support community groups and smaller acts, a new community art room, as well as a newly transformed foyer, theatre dining area, new bar areas with upgraded amenities and modernised backstage facilities.

Cardiff: New public square planned for Cardiff city centre 

A new public square which aims to create a vibrant space in the heart of Cardiff city centre could soon be built. Labour’s Cardiff Council has applied for permission for highways, active travel and public realm improvement works on land at Boulevard de Nantes and Kingsway in Cathays. The council says the surrounding Kingsway area has “over time generated a feeling of being run-down”, and Kingsway had “become a place that people pass through rather than a destination”.

The changes aim to improve pedestrian and cycle access between the city centre and the Civic Centre with clear paths for walking, wheeling and cycling. Cardiff Council’s goal is to turn Kingsway from a busy traffic road into a safe, welcoming, green space with trees, plants and biodiversity that is easy for people to use. There would also be spaces for events, markets, and informal gatherings, as well as play and recreation opportunities.

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Salford: New Clarendon Leisure Centre

Labour’s Salford City Council is building a brand-new state-of-the-art Clarendon Leisure Centre to replace the former leisure centre following a devastating fire in May 2024, which is scheduled to open in late 2028. Following extensive negotiations, the council has successfully resolved a £5.4 million insurance settlement, unlocking funding needed to progress with the next stage of the project and deliver a landmark health and wellbeing hub.

Designed in direct response to extensive community consultation with residents, local schools, and sports clubs, the new building will include:

• A 25-metre, 5-lane swimming pool 
• A dedicated family splash pad.  
• A modern 80-station fitness suite and exercise studios.  
• A 2-court multi-purpose sports hall for badminton, basketball, and community sports.  
• Full accessibility facilities, including Changing Places rooms 
• A community café and viewing zone, connecting to outdoor green spaces 

The leisure centre will be built on a nearby brownfield site adjacent to Salford Shopping Centre, placing it at the heart of wider regeneration plans and within easy reach of local neighbourhoods. 

Newton Aycliffe: Work begins on Newton Aycliffe industrial scheme

A new 80,000sq ft commercial development in County Durham is on track for completion by the end of the year at Aycliffe Business Park in Newton Aycliffe and will provide two warehouse units spanning 35,811sq ft and 39,829 sq ft. Both will include office space, eaves heights of up to 12 metres and 35 parking spaces, including electric vehicle charging points.

The scheme is being supported through the North East Commercial Property Investment Fund, together with a seven-figure investment provided by Labour North East Mayor Kim McGuinness to address the development’s financial viability gap. The project is aimed at attracting inward investment, supporting job creation and bringing additional high-quality industrial space to the market.

St Helens: New St Helens bus service to Liverpool Airport 

More than 25,000 more Liverpool City Region residents will have direct public transport access to Liverpool John Lennon Airport in under an hour following the start of an express bus service from St Helens. The new X3 express service will link St Helens town centre directly to the travel hub and started on Sunday 6 September.

Other improvements to the bus network in St Helens include additional evening and weekend services, extended routes to serve hospitals and buses currently running every two hours becoming hourly. Steve Rotheram, Labour Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “When I said we were taking back control of our buses, it was never just about changing who runs them. It was about building a public transport network that works for local people. It will make it quicker and easier for thousands more people to get to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, whether they’re travelling for work, jetting off on holiday or welcoming friends and family to our region.

Nottingham: New Dementia Hub is launched in Sherwood

Labour’s Nottingham City council is working with the Alzheimer’s Society and the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System to deliver a new Dementia Hub at the Winwood Heights retirement living community in Sherwood. Dementia Hubs offer support to people living with dementia and those who care for them, and provide a welcoming space where people affected by dementia can access emotional, practical and social support, whatever stage of their journey they are at.

The hubs offer information and guidance for family members, friends and carers, as well as advice on local services, planning for the future, maintaining quality of life and helping to prevent situations from reaching crisis point. Winwood Heights is one of Nottingham City Council’s flagship retirement living communities. It includes the high-rise Winchester and Woodthorpe Courts, plus Winwood Court, which links the two towers.

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