South Tyneside Council – South Shields Town Centre Redevelopment

Masterplan for town centre & transport interchange

South Tyneside Council has a masterplan to regenerate South Shields town centre. Its 365 Town Centre Vision sets out a ten-year sustainable economic plan that will provide new opportunities for residents, businesses and visitors by creating a town centre that is open for business, with an expanded retail and leisure offer.

SYSTRA was appointed by Muse Developments, South Tyneside Council’s development partner, to be part of a multi-disciplinary team providing traffic and transport support for the masterplan development and implementation.

The works required in the town centre included demolishing the existing Metro (light railway) station and constructing a new bus and rail interchange. The surrounding road network required improvements to enhance pedestrian and cycling amenities, alongside extensive improvements to the public realm.

Transport interchange and pedestrian-friendly streets revitalise town centre

SYSTRA assisted the feasibility design of the new public transport interchange, consulted with bus companies and transport authorities on routing and layout, assisted in the detailed design of the interchange and the surrounding road network, and prepared the Transport Assessment and Travel Plan to accompany the planning application.

We conducted extensive consultations with council and political representatives, and with key stakeholders, including bus operators, cycling organisations, access groups and the general public. We developed a town centre traffic model, which allowed different road improvement schemes to be tested, and helped us to present ideas and scheme benefits to consultees.

A key element of the proposal was rerouting bus services and introducing a bus priority system to improve access to the interchange. The road network was improved by removing capacity constraints through widening roads, where possible, and updating signal arrangements to accommodate improved pedestrian and cycling facilities.

Ultimately, SYSTRA provided detailed designs for the town centre and wider highway works to construction stage, and assisted in the tender and appointment of a suitably qualified contractor.

Expert support from business case to detailed designs

SYSTRA helped to prepare the outline and full business cases for the new transport interchange. This work involved preparing the full economic case for the scheme, including assessments of its economic, environmental, social and public-account impacts. We assessed noise, greenhouse gas, journey quality and accident impacts, as well as providing cost and revenue data. Our appraisal included sensitivity tests and a value-for-money statement, as well as an analysis of the impacts of the scheme on different vulnerable groups.

Feasibility designs for the transport interchange and surrounding road network were drawn up after extensive consultation with bus operators and transport authorities. We carried out operational assessments of the proposals and prepared the Transport Assessment Travel Plan and Access and Movement Strategy documents required to support the planning application. We also organised a “planning for real exercise” in which the proposed layout was marked out in a car park for bus operators to test.

Following a review of on and off-street parking in the town centre, we worked with council officers to identify changes required to existing Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to accommodate the town centre proposals. These proposals required a Section 247 Stopping Up Application for changes the road network, as well as a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the proposals. Our specialists liaised with the Department for Transport (DfT) over these matters and provided expert support to the council at a public inquiry. Both the Stopping Up Application and CPO were subsequently approved.

To prepare our service delivery plan for the town centre, we went door-to-door asking businesses and market traders about their servicing and delivery schedules. This enabled us to make recommendations about timed zones, Traffic Regulation Orders and loading areas in the town.

To improve the road network, we carried out a study to identify problem areas. We then provided detailed designs for the proposed road infrastructure, pedestrian and cycle network, which included drawings for general arrangements, construction details, setting-out and dimension plans, showing the critical interfaces with existing features, roads and drainage.

South Shields town centre remodelled for the future

The business cases developed by SYSTRA helped the council to secure £9m of funding for the new South Shields transport interchange.

Our work with bus operators and transport authorities ensured there was full support for the town centre proposals, including the introduction of bus priority measures and restricted access arrangements. Our consultation with local businesses enabled suitable servicing and delivery arrangements to be implemented.

The construction of the new transport interchange was completed on schedule, and the wider highways and landscaping elements were completed one year later.