A Planning Reunion: 50 Years On

The group, made up of Tim White, Ann Warren, Nick Tyrrell, Ed Isaacs, and Paul Semple originally met as Town and Country Planning undergraduates at Newcastle University in October 1969.

Fifty years on, the course is still going strong (known today as BA Urban Planning) and although they all went their separate ways, the group have kept in touch and followed each other’s lives and careers.

Celebrating Waldridge Village – a planning case study from the 1970s

Six of the original class worked on this groundbreaking student case study; Ed Isaacs, Mike King, Torstein Leiro, Keith Patterson, Tim White and Jeremy Wright – led by course tutor – Patrick Whitehead (known to the group as Paddy).

In 1951, Durham County Council categorised all the county’s settlements - those with the most potential were classed as Category A, those with the least potential were categorised as Category D. The Category D villages were seen as no longer economically viable, and the decision was taken to cut them off and let the communities wither as people moved on to new areas.

In 1974 the Department of Town and Country Planning at Newcastle University was approached by the representatives of Waldridge on behalf of the villagers who were fighting for its survival.

Newcastle University’s Planning Department adopted the village as a case-study project for a group of six final year students. They carried out physical and social surveys at Waldridge and made recommendations for action. They presented their findings in a report to the villagers, who then submitted it to Chester-le-Street and Durham County Council planners.

In the report they recommended that:

• the District Council should reinstate improvement grants and reinvest in the village;
• certain properties were identified as beyond rehabilitation and should be demolished; and
• Durham County Council should reconsider the categorisation of former mining villages.

Chester-le-Street Council responded positively, proposing to immediately overturn its policy to not provide improvement grants, whilst Durham County Council indicated that it would be reconsidering its policy during the forthcoming review of the County Development Plan.

The Policy was formally ended in 1977. Tim White, one of the former students working on the project, commented:

“It is not exaggerating to say that our report was the catalyst which saved not only Waldridge, but dozens of other blighted villages in the region”.

At the end of 2024, marking 50 years since the town was saved, the Council invited key members of the project group back to celebrate. It was this invitation that sparked initial contact, but only three of the original project members (Ed, Mike and Tim) were able to make the celebration, alongside former tutor Paddy. Tim commented:

“We had a most enjoyable evening in Waldridge and were able to tour the village beforehand and see for ourselves what a thriving, well-kept community it now is. Our presentation was warmly received by the villagers who attended, none of whom had any idea of this bit of their history”.

Revisiting planning facilities at Newcastle University

Twelve of the graduates planned a Newcastle reunion. A smaller group consisting of Tim White, Ann Warren, Nick Tyrrell, Ed Isaacs, and Paul Semple, made a special visit to the campus to see what they could recognise from the department where they all met in 1969 as a cohort of just 21 students.

Ann Warren, one of only four women on the original programme, was delighted to see a more balanced mix of men and women among current students. She remarked on the "lovely atmosphere of thoughtfulness and enthusiasm" that pervaded the campus.

Ed Isaacs noted the familiarity of the department, and his surprise at the increase in student numbers, reflecting the growing popularity of the subject area and profession. He commented:

“I was impressed that so many young people want to enter the profession - it does seem in good health”.

Having enjoyed reacquainting himself with the city and campus, Ed added:

“It was a privilege being shown round my old department, and I really enjoyed chatting to the current staff.”

Nick Tyrrell found the visit nostalgic, recalling where they sat in their first year. He commented that the campus had a more streamlined and cosier feel, with improved library, study and rest areas.

Paul Semple reminisced about his student days and the thrill of hearing 20,000 Geordies sing "Blaydon Races" at St James' Park. He was amazed by the campus's expansion and the high standard of current facilities. Like many Newcastle University students still do today, Paul appreciated the city's character and the vibrant changes to the Quayside that have taken place since his time here.

Tim White observed how different teaching is today, including the impressive digital facilities that students have access to for architecture and planning programmes. He praised the new buildings, sculptures, and landscaping on the campus and noted the many improvements to Newcastle as a whole, since he first fell in love with the city in 1969.

Visiting the latest additions to planning and architecture on Newcastle University campus

The reunion also included a visit to the Farrell Centre and the Concrete Dreams exhibition, which brought back memories of Tyneside’s modernist past and the city’s major redevelopment plans from across the 1960s and 1970s.

Director of Planning and Urban Design at Newcastle University, Dr Cat Button, along with Danny Oswell, Lecturer in Planning, led the tour of the campus and learning facilities.

Dr Button commented:

“It was a pleasure to welcome the group back to campus and show them the department and the changes, as well as similarities, from their time here.

Newcastle as a city is such a great planning case study with a fascinating history of urban design and renewal, so it was a bonus that our visitors were able to see the city as it is now, while recollecting the past and revisiting fond memories of their Newcastle University student days”.

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