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WHY DOES PETERLEE LOOK LIKE THIS?

DannyVlogsTravels

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Empty shops. Shuttered units. “TO LET” signs. And town centres that feel completely different from the ones many of us remember.

For this vlog, I’ve come to Peterlee in County Durham to find out what happened to the British town centre — and why so many towns across the UK are facing similar problems.

But Peterlee is a particularly interesting place to ask the question.

It was built as a New Town in 1948, designed to give East Durham’s mining communities a new future. It was planned around homes, jobs, shops and a town centre.

So how did a town designed for the future end up facing the same problems as so many other British high streets?

In this video, I look at the rise of online shopping, retail parks, changing consumer habits, COVID, the decline of major high-street retailers and what could happen to town centres in the future.

Because maybe the question isn't simply “Why are town centres dying?”

Maybe it's:

What are town centres actually for now?

📍 Peterlee, County Durham
🇬🇧 England

What do you think has happened to your local town centre? Let me know in the comments.

#BritishHighStreet #TownCentre #Peterlee #UK #CountyDurham #HighStreet #BritishTowns #Retail #History #TravelVlog #UKVlog #DannyVlogsTravels

20 Comments

@gwheregwhizz 3 days ago

What killed it was Dalton Park, opened well after internet shopping became the default. 70 odd shops selling everything a five minute drive away, easy parking, new £3.4 million transport hub coming, and booming. People in all the local villages now go there instead.

@DWPhotoUK 3 days ago

Great video, Dan! As someone who grew up in Peterlee, thank you for visiting and bringing such a thoughtful perspective to my hometown until 2020. It’s heart breaking to see how quiet and shuttered the town centre is today, because back in the 80s and 90s, it really was a bustling place to be—full of open shops, busy Saturdays, and a real buzz. Regarding the Pasmore Pavilion looking so unusual today: when it was originally built, it actually blended right in with the surrounding housing estate! The original houses were designed to match that same experimental, geometric modernist vision—mostly flat-roofed and rectangular. However, due to poor construction and constant leaks, pitched roofs were eventually added to almost all those homes over the years. As the neighbourhood updated, the Pavilion was left standing as the sole remaining piece of that original flat-roofed, rectangular design—which is why it feels so uniquely out of place today! Really appreciated your balanced look at the town's history and its future.

@ashleighellen6232 4 days ago

I've lived here all my life, 30 years, it breaks my heart to see it like this 💔 I hope one day the town will adapt and recover. It would be lovely to see it thrive again. Thank you for covering this topic

@johnarnell4241 4 days ago

Politicians took bungs from developers to build out of town retail parks

@DavidRobinson-rj2sp 3 days ago

I went to Peterlee Tech in the 1970's and used to drink in The Gamecock.

@craigwilkinson276 3 days ago

I grew up in Peterlee, went overseas and came back only to see family and friends. I’ve many fond memories of growing up there. There was place to roam, fields to play on. When I’d visit, a walk through the town center felt like walking through an alien landscape. It’s done for, as there’s no coming back from online shopping. Shame.

@joe-c-u9h 3 days ago

Well made and important video, keep
It up mate

@rising-of-the-sun 4 days ago

I grew up in Peterlee, left 40 years ago, it was very busy back then, lots of changes, shops changed hands even some of the structure has been changed since I have left. But obviously not for the better. In Peterlee town centre was the only place to hang out apart from the roller disco at the leisure centre.

@rossmolyneux7580 4 days ago

Far cry from going with my grandma in the 80s/early 90s, good shops and things like quality bakeries rather than just a Greggs. They need to start by pulling down Lee and Ridgemount Houses, they’re a blight on the whole place. The lad suggesting an indoor mixed use leisure and shopping centre is spot on, needs to be weather proof.

@Ambofrisk4107 4 days ago

Enjoyed that,cheers

@Oldenuff2nobeta 3 days ago

Saw you filming this under ridgemont house and said, Danny. Wish I stopped and spoke to you. Good video Danny

@NorthEastUK444 4 days ago

Several sites in and around Peterlee have demolition either approved, proposed, or strongly pushed for by residents and councillors.

@AndrewLangan-m3k 3 days ago

Sheer greed rents have spiralled out of control but the service supplied by the town centre has dwindled. I have lived here my entire life just a stones throw from the town centre and I have watched if closely . It’s a real shame and this town centre really needs to die before it can be brought back to life .

@paulstones1451 2 days ago

No investment into the area. But as you mentioned its the way people shop with it been online and towns these days a lot of them the shops are forgein shops foreign owners which people dont need.

@AndrewDB26 18 hours ago

Lived there a couple of years. Rough as........
Same idea as newton aycliffe. A 1948 new town built with industrial estate nearby. Aycliffe town centre is just as bad. Absolute rubbish now.

@Djcallumbell 4 days ago

it needs to be all indoor, the weather ruins our mood Danny and the concrete shows dirt, I think more stores will setup if it does. heating and entertainment should be the priority on a cold north east coastline

@Allgo61 4 days ago

Danny, whilst I don't disagree with you regarding the demise and possible future of the 'town centre' I'm afraid you totaly miss the point of the development of Peterlee town centre. Whilst questioning the vision of Victor Passmore and his pavillion, at outset Peterlee was full of visionary green spaces, accesability and street art available to all. The sad images you filmed of the 'closed' Town centre are the opposite of what the whole area was in the 1970's. I little bit of research and you could have shown what a vibrant and welcoming space that was the vision of the new town developers. Unforunately the urban decay in socierty which started in the Thatcher years of despair set the rot. Not only in Peterlee but other new towns such as Aycliffe, Billingham, Glenrothes and especially Cumbernauld. All that said, keep up the good work.

@christiphermeadows5348 3 days ago (edited)

British town centres are dying coz u can buy all yer stuff of the internet now without even leaving yer home..still like goin to peterlee coz i bump in to friends sometimes and have a chinwag..

@colin7632 4 days ago

Part of the failure is modernist architects! Absolutely ugly that no one gets a good feeling from! When you look at the beauty created by the Victorian’s we still want to go and see it! Consider the aesthetics 🤷‍♂️

@harr_6068 4 days ago

To be fair, all the companies that disappeared (Debenhams, Wilko etc) closed because of mis-management by their owners, usually private equity firms. You can blame online shopping but at the end of the day it really boils down to capitalism.