29 Oct 2026
How can policy and investment better reflect the needs of coastal and rural communities? The North East Coastal and Rural Taskforce is exploring that question through a series of Solution Sessions, bringing local experience together with evidence and expertise.
The sessions bring residents, businesses, community organisations, service providers, policymakers and researchers together to identify priorities and develop practical recommendations. Each starts with what people in the area have said matters to them, then considers how local, regional and national policy and investment could support change.
The first two sessions took place in Seahouses and Blackhall and the Rocks. Although the same process was used in both places, the priorities reflected their different circumstances.
In Seahouses, set in rural coastal Northumberland, participants explored affordable and accessible housing, transport and connectivity, local jobs and skills, access to essential services, and the impact of tourism on communities.
In Blackhall and the Rocks, a post-industrial coastal community in County Durham, discussion focused on travel and transport, building aspiration, confidence and skills for work, improving access to the coast, and expanding services and opportunities for young people.
A third session held in South Shields, an urban coastal town, focused on young people aged 15–25. Key priorities included a greater sense of safety when accessing and using public transport, more opportunities and spaces for young people to meet and socialise, clearer and more coordinated information about available services and support, and earlier exposure to work and career opportunities with a expectation on pledge organisations. Participants also discussed how changes to the benefits system could better support participation and progression. Across all themes, there was a strong emphasis on inclusion, particularly for young people with additional needs, young carers, and their families.
The sessions are part of a wider programme to tackle long-standing challenges facing coastal and rural places. By working with communities and bringing partners together across sectors, the Taskforce aims to develop practical models and recommendations that can inform future policy and investment.
The Taskforce will run until March 2028 producing a Coastal and Rural Economy Transformation Blueprints for the North East. The learning and approaches developed through this work could also be shared nationally, helping other areas on their devolution journey consider how policy can better reflect the needs of coastal and rural communities.
NICRE has also joined a new Defra advisory group developing rural guidance for strategic authorities. This creates another opportunity to share learning from the North East with wider policy discussions.
Find out more about the North East Coastal and Rural Taskforce and its Solution Sessions.
