Newcastle city centre area transformed to prioritise people

A major redesign of a busy city centre area in Newcastle has been completed, with changes made to the road layout to give more space to people and new paving and landscaping installed.

New seating, green space and trees have been added to the corner of Barras Bridge and St Mary’s Place to create a new place where people can meet, with further tree planting taking place outside Newcastle University’s Kings Gate building.

Architecture students from the university played a role in helping to design the new public space by taking part in design workshops to consider how the area could be better used.

Newcastle City Council’s transport and landscape design teams worked with the visions and ideas put forward by the students to create the final designs for the area.

Cllr Ged Bell, cabinet member for development, transport and neighbourhoods at Newcastle City Council, said: ‘This is one of the busiest pedestrian areas in the city centre, yet for many years it was dominated by multiple lanes of traffic, making it difficult for people to get around on foot. When we first tested the changes, it was to prove we didn’t need that amount of space for vehicles. Having proven we could manage the traffic with upgrades to signals, we then secured millions of pounds of investment.

‘I’m very pleased that these changes have given space back to people, putting them first and creating a much more pleasant landscape for everyone to enjoy. This has been a true collaborative project – with excellent support and input from a some of our talented students as well as us responding to public feedback on the initial temporary measures that were used to test out how the new road layout and crossing points would work. The end result is a space that is attractive and much easier and safer for everyone to get around, regardless of whether you are travelling on foot, by bike or in a vehicle.’

Prue Chiles, professor of architectural design research at Newcastle University, added: ‘A group of 6th year Architecture Students were looking at the future of the University area between Northumberland Road and the entrance to the University. The road crossings were tight and dangerous and the area in front of St Thomas’ Church was constricting and congested.

‘The students worked with a team from the City Council to design and prepare drawings for a bid for funding to complete the works, which was successful. It’s fantastic to see how the students’ ideas and hard work have helped improve this busy area.’

In related news, in order to encourage shoppers back safely after the pandemic, Milton Keynes Council is investing almost £360,000 in the city’s high streets.

Photo supplied by Newcastle City Council