| Description |
Aycliffe was the first New Town in the North of England, designated in 1947 - Peterlee was a year later. The region's major industries of coalmining, ship-building and heavy engineering were, and indeed still are, in steep decline and the two New Towns were built to provide alternative employment and housing. Now some 25,000 people live in each town and about 17,000 jobs have been created in new industries.
Author Garry Philipson was the Managing Director of Aycliffe and Peterlee Development Corporations 1974-1985. |