Projects

Engagement, evaluation and implementation support for The ‘Healthy Streets’ scheme in Stockton-on-Tees.

Supported by researchers from our Enabling Methodologies theme

The ‘Healthy Streets’ project involves researchers from Newcastle and Teesside Universities working with Stockton Borough Council to explore how street design can support healthier lifestyles.

Healthy Streets is a public health funded project which aims to improve opportunities for people to walk, cycle, and spend time in safe and attractive environments within Stockton-on-Tees.

This is currently a pilot project, focusing on two wards in Stockton: Newtown and Hardwick. Community engagement sessions identified some interventions to carry out in each of the pilot areas.

Read more about the scheme

Initial engagement work supported by ARC NENC has involved engagement with local residents and young people to understand their views and priorities.

The next phase involved working with a local architect to look at how the data collected could inform design proposals.

In a series of ‘design sprint’ events, further engagement took place in local communities to share potential plans followed by discussions with council members to explore feasibility and prioritisation of design proposals.

Following the ‘design sprints’, decisions were made through further (internal) discussions at the council and some of the following changes are in the process of being implemented:

• Murals created in the two areas which are part of the Health Streets study.
• ‘Home Security’ visits have been made available to residents in one of the areas of focus.
• Work has begun on a planter in one of the streets.
• Consultation about lowering the speed limit in one of the areas is underway.

The Newcastle and Teesside team have conducted interviews with members of Stockton Borough Council (SBC) focusing on project processes and how change happens in local authorities.

The project will continue through the implementation phase.

Project end: March 2025 (approx)