The creation of a new transport hub in North Shields has been given a £19m cash injection.
Local council leaders signed off on a major funding boost for the interchange project on Tuesday afternoon, a move hailed as a crucial step for the town’s regeneration. The huge hub is designed to bring all bus services in the town together in one location and closer to Metro, taxis and cycling infrastructure, as well as improving links between the town centre and the Fish Quay.
It was awarded more than £19m by the North East Joint Transport Committee (JTC) on Tuesday, as part of a range of schemes being paid for via the region’s allocation from the government’s Transforming Cities Fund.
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Coun Carl Johnson, the deputy mayor of North Tyneside, said that the decision was “really good news for North Shields ” and a “landmark moment” for the council’s regeneration ambitions, after Co-op’s decision to close its store on the site and leave the area. Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon called it a “first class scheme” that “hits all the points on the vision that we have in terms of improving public transport”.
It is hoped that the hub, which will replace the former Co-op building on Bedford Street, will become the first net zero carbon building in North Tyneside. As well as the interchange, the JTC also approved funding for two other schemes on Tuesday.
Almost £2m was awarded to create permanent pedestrian and cycle routes around the Gateshead Quayside. And more than £3m will go towards the creation of a new southbound bus lane connecting the A188 Goathland Avenue junction in Longbenton and the entrance to Four Lane Ends Interchange, as well as improvements to walking and cycling routes and new cycle storage facilities at Four Lane Ends Metro station.
On the Gateshead development, Coun Gannon added: “The delivery of improved cycling and walking links is a key part of the ongoing regeneration of the Gateshead Quays and Baltic Quarter area. I’m pleased these developments will help to further improve safety and access to our walking and cycling infrastructure.”
The North East’s £198m Transforming Cities settlement is also funding the bulk of the £100m Metro Flow project, upgrading Metro lines in South Tyneside to allow for increased train frequencies and faster journeys.
