Delayed street works to continue over Christmas

Bright Christmas lights are illuminated over the busy pedestrianised street. Shops line either side of the walkway. One display overhead shows the words: "Northumberland Street".Image source, Newcastle City Council
Image caption,

Work on Newcastle's main thoroughfare was due to end this summer (library image from 2023)

  • Published

Works on a busy city centre shopping street will continue over the Christmas period, a council has confirmed.

Delays to work on Northumberland Street in Newcastle meant construction that was supposed to finish this summer has been pushed to back to early 2026.

Newcastle City Council said the work would not be halted during the holiday season this year, but pledged to "ensure these have minimal impact" festivities in the city.

Thousands of people descend on the city's main thoroughfare every day throughout the holidays, including to take in the famous Fenwick Christmas window.

Starting in December 2023, works have been causing disruption for shoppers for months as new paving is laid and street furniture installed.

The Labour-led authority said it would set out more details about the planned works over Christmas in the coming weeks.

Bright red and white construction barriers surround a section of Northumberland Street. In it, half of the paving is laid down and forms grey diamond patterns. The other half is a work in progress where the street is still dug up and a cement mixer sits nearby.Image source, Newcastle City Council
Image caption,

New paving is being laid as part of works

The council said work was taking longer than planned because there had been so many unknowns under the surface.

High-voltage power lines beneath the road required "careful hand-digging" and much of the paving had been laid by hand, it said.

The project is being funded using the majority of a £20m grant from the previous government's Levelling Up Fund.

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