Peterlee
Local Info
Peterlee is a "New Town" located in County Durham, England, situated south of Sunderland and north of Hartlepool, with Durham to its west and the Durham Coast to its east. Peterlee was designated as a New Town in 1948 under the New Towns Act of 1946. Its creation was unique among new towns as it was directly requested by local people, primarily working miners, through their Member of Parliament. The town was named after Peter Lee (1864-1935), a celebrated Durham miners' leader. The primary aim was to provide modern housing, amenities, and employment for the mining and rural communities of East Durham, improving upon the squalid conditions of many colliery village.Development largely occurred between the 1950s and 1970s. An initial master plan by Berthold Lubetkin for towering blocks was rejected due to the ground weakened by mining, leading to his resignation. George Grenfell Baines then took over the building. Later, artist Victor Pasmore became a design consultant, leaving his mark with the Apollo Pavilion. The Apollo Pavilion: This distinctive concrete sculpture, completed in 1970, serves as both an abstract artwork and a bridge. Named after the Apollo moon missions, it's a Grade-II* listed site by English Heritage, despite initial controversy and vandalism that led to the temporary removal of its staircases. It has since been restored. Peterlee historically housed coal miners and their families. Today, it has economic and community ties with nearby Sunderland, Hartlepool, and Durham. It has developed a strong sense of community and is known for its open green spaces. The town has industrial estates that provide significant employment, with car parts maker GT Group being a major employer. Peterlee offers a range of amenities including a shopping centre (Castle Dene Shopping Centre), a leisure centre, and various educational facilities including primary schools, secondary schools, and East Durham College. It's also close to the natural beauty of Castle Eden Dene National Nature Reserve, the largest area of semi-natural woodland in North East England. In essence, Peterlee is a testament to post-World War II planning in the UK, designed to offer a better quality of life and a centralized community for a historically industrial region.
