Plans taking shape for Seafront Sustainable Route

Plans are moving ahead to deliver ambitious walking and cycling improvements for North Tyneside’s coast.

North Tyneside Council secured funding in May 2022 from Active Travel England (ATE) to move ahead with plans for a permanent, segregated, two-way safe space between the North Shields Fish Quay and St Mary’s Lighthouse.

The scheme – known as the Seafront Sustainable Route – will make it easier for people to choose active and green ways of getting around, while better connecting communities and coastal businesses and attractions.

Since the announcement of the funding, the wider economic situation has meant that all local authorities are facing significant increases in the cost of highway materials and construction.

As the detailed design work for the scheme continues, the council is working with the grant funding provider to address these cost pressures.

Councillor Sandra Graham, Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “We are very excited about the way this scheme is taking shape.

“The new route will have wide-ranging benefits for North Tyneside and will support people to access cheap, healthy, zero emission travel, while providing a boost to air quality and people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

“It will better connect our coastal communities and link the seafront with planned improvements in North Shields as part of the regeneration programme there.

“We will continue to work with the funding provider to address the cost pressures relating to wider trends in the costs of materials and construction.

“We will seek local people’s views again when the design work is complete, which is likely to be early in the New Year.”

Further information and FAQs on the Seafront Sustainable Route.

In July 2019, the council declared a climate emergency and set a target to reduce the carbon footprint of the authority and the borough by 50% by 2023. But the council has already achieved a 52% reduction and brought forward its carbon net-zero target by twenty years to 2030.

A six-week consultation exercise was carried out in October 2021 on the Sea Front Sustainable Route and received more than 11,000 comments from 1,500 people. The feedback is being used to help shape the scheme design.