The North East

The North East is comprised of the seven local authority areas of Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, Northumberland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland, which came together to form the North East Combined Authority in 2024. It has a population of around two million. The region is geographically diverse, spanning the cities of Newcastle, Sunderland and Gateshead, large rural areas in Durham and Northumberland and extensive coastal communities. The North East has a strong industrial legacy in mining, heavy engineering and shipbuilding.

Manufacturing remains central to the regional economy, evident in the growth of industries like offshore energy, automotives, and life sciences, alongside a growing digital sector and large visitor and rural economies. Yet skills, productivity and output continue to lag behind national averages and the region has the highest rate of child poverty in the country. Some former industrial towns and villages have experienced prolonged industrial decline. Greenhouse gas emissions more than halved between 2005 and 2023, exceeding the national rate of decrease, and the region’s CO2 equivalent per head is lower than the national level. Reflecting a tradition of collective action and mutual support, the North East has a vibrant voluntary and community sector engaged in a wide variety of activities and initiatives.