In 2021, Newcastle City Council unveiled a £50 million vision to create a vast pedestrianised precinct running the length of Northumberland Street, Grey Street, and Blackett Street. The vehicle-free zone was intended to help the city recover from Covid lockdowns, creating a hub for cultural events and a clean, green connection to the Quayside.
The idea, developed under the Labour administration led by Nick Forbes, never came to fruition. Northumberland Street did get a facelift, but the transformation was delayed and remains unfinished. Following Mr Forbes' departure and subsequent political turbulence, the Grey Street and Blackett Street plans were put under review.
Grey Street and Blackett Street: A Tale of Two Streets
Grey Street underwent a significant overhaul, including widened pavements and removal of parking bays, but was not fully pedestrianised. Blackett Street, a busy bus route heavily used by taxis, saw its vehicle ban shelved in October 2022. The street had been temporarily pedestrianised during summer events and the 2019 Christmas markets, with supporters welcoming the prospect of cutting emissions on one of Newcastle's most polluted streets.
But the plan faced heavy opposition from bus companies, particularly Stagecoach, which claimed to have lost 120,000 passengers when Blackett Street was shut in winter 2019. A public inquiry would have been required to proceed, along with a new bus loop around the city centre.
Council Leadership Change Sparks New Calls
The council said at the time that a long-term ambition to pedestrianise Blackett Street remained, with a view to revisiting the project once the nearby Pilgrim Street redevelopment was complete. That area's redevelopment, including the Pilgrim's Quarter complex, is now complete, with offices due to be occupied by HMRC next year.
The impending influx of thousands of civil servants and the recent change in leadership, now a Lib Dem minority administration supported by the Greens, has prompted calls to revive the scheme. The North East Public Transport Users Group described the city centre as a "dysfunctional mess" and demanded a "complete rethink" of its road network.
What Happens Next?
Council leader Colin Ferguson promised this week that his administration would deliver a "coherent plan" and said the Lib Dems "share the ambition for a more pedestrian-friendly city centre". All eyes will be on the new leadership and their choices in the coming months.
