Marie Tidball MP, the Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, has welcomed Lord Andrew Mawson OBE to Stocksbridge to see progress on the new 519 Community Hub and bring local partners together to develop plans for improving healthcare and community services on the high street.
Marie joined members of the Stocksbridge Towns Fund Board on Friday 16 October to show Lord Mawson around the 519 building, which is currently under construction on Manchester Road.
The 519 is one of the flagship projects of the £24.1 million Stocksbridge Towns Fund programme, which Marie co-chairs. The new building, expected to open in spring 2027, will provide a modern library, education and training facilities, office space for businesses, a café and community spaces, helping to bring new life to Stocksbridge's traditional high street.
Lord Mawson is an internationally recognised social entrepreneur and community regeneration expert, best known for founding the Bromley-by-Bow Centre in East London, which pioneered an approach to bringing healthcare, community services, education and enterprise together.
Following the visit, Marie and Lord Mawson joined local health and community partners for a roundtable discussion to develop Marie's Health on the High Street proposals, which aim to bring healthcare and other essential services closer to people in Stocksbridge and the surrounding communities.
The discussions included representatives from Valley Medical Centre, alongside local community and regeneration partners, exploring opportunities to improve access to routine healthcare, diagnostic services, support for older people, women's health and services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Participants also discussed the importance of preventative healthcare and tackling the wider factors that affect people's health, including social isolation, access to employment and skills, and the availability of local community activities.
A particular focus was how the 519 could complement existing GP surgeries and community organisations, creating better connections between services and making it easier for residents to find the support they need without unnecessary journeys into central Sheffield.
The discussions also explored opportunities to link the new Hub with Stocksbridge's wider regeneration, including education, skills, local businesses and community organisations, building on the town's industrial heritage and ambitions for future growth.
Marie will now continue working with local healthcare providers, Sheffield City Council and other partners to develop the Health on the High Street proposals, identify potential services and funding arrangements, and explore how the 519 could play a role in a more joined-up approach to neighbourhood healthcare.
Marie Tidball MP said:
“It was fantastic to welcome Lord Mawson to Stocksbridge and show him the brilliant progress being made on our new 519 Community Hub.
“The 519 is really taking shape now, and it's going to be such an important part of bringing new life into the heart of Stocksbridge. But I want us to be even more ambitious about what it can mean for our communities.
“I've heard from constituents time and time again about the challenges of accessing healthcare locally, particularly when people have to travel into central Sheffield for appointments and routine services. I want to see more of that care brought closer to home, right here in Stocksbridge.
“That's why it was so valuable to bring local health partners, including Valley Medical Centre, together with Lord Mawson to develop our Health on the High Street plans. We had some fantastic discussions about how we can connect healthcare with community services, skills, education and the wider support people need to live healthy and fulfilling lives.
“Lord Mawson has shown what can be achieved when communities, healthcare providers, businesses and public services work together with a shared vision. There's real potential for us to build on that experience here in Stocksbridge.
“I'll continue working closely with the Towns Fund Board, local healthcare providers and our community partners to turn these ideas into practical, lasting improvements for our town.”
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