Young minds shape homes of the future

Primary school pupils from across the North East have brought a youth-led regeneration challenge to life by sharing their ideas for the homes and communities of the future during a special visit to Beamish Museum.

Around 250 pupils in years five and six from Cotsford, Yohden, Easington Colliery, Dene House and Dame Dorothy Primary Schools took part in the event, where they were joined by North East mayor Kim McGuinness and TV architect George Clarke. 

The visit marked the culmination of a project that challenged pupils to design a new masterplan for Horden, exploring housing types, green transport, community facilities, infrastructure and renewable energy.

At Beamish, students unveiled scale models and short videos explaining the thinking behind their ideas, many of which reflected sustainability, accessibility and strong community connections.

Six teams presented their proposals in the Community Welfare Hall, turning the museum into a hub for models, workshops and discussion led by young voices shaping the region’s future.

Mayor McGuinness said: “Every family deserves a home that is warm, affordable, and part of a thriving community, with access to green spaces, good transport links and opportunities for the future.

"I’ve loved seeing kids from the North East excited to design what our future should look like. 

“This is about putting our communities at the heart of regeneration, and I’m proud to see young voices shaping the homes of tomorrow with some brilliant ideas.”

Alongside the presentations, the day included hands-on learning experiences, with students taking part in STEM activities linked to historic innovation and exploring how communities have evolved before and after the housing revolution.

Sessions also highlighted how former industrial infrastructure, including disused mineshafts, is now being repurposed to power geothermal heat networks for homes across the region.

The initiative was led by Mobie North, the charity focused on inspiring young people around green infrastructure, housing and regeneration, with support from the North East Combined Authority. 

George, who is a patron of Mobie North, added: “I am thrilled to be here today celebrating the work of 250 young people from across the region, who have taken part in a student challenge that we hope will bring a different voice to the discussion about the future of our communities in this country. 

“Communities should be built for the people who live within them, so having students who may eventually call these properties home help shape the design of Horden is fantastic, and their work will be passed on to Durham County Council to inform their approach. 

“It’s been a wonderful project, with so many brilliant ideas put forward by the students.  

“I hope this has inspired them too about the opportunities presented by a career in built environment.”

Rhiannon Hiles, chief executive of Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, added: “We were delighted to welcome the children, mayor Kim McGuinness, George Clarke and Mobie North to Beamish for this wonderful event. 

“It was truly inspiring to see the students’ brilliant work and innovative ideas, and to celebrate their achievements. 

“Beamish is an anchor institution, with the region’s communities at our heart – we are committed to championing the North East and creating opportunity. 

“Learning and skills are integral to this, including our education programmes and work to increase access to careers in the creative and cultural sector, so it was a real pleasure to host and be part of this fantastic event at the museum.”

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