New multi-million-pound transport hub and town square to open in North Tyneside

North Tyneside Council will be celebrating the opening of a new Transport Hub and Town Square in North Shields, this Saturday (September 2), with live music and outdoor arts performances.

The Hub is a major part of North Tyneside Council’s ambitious plan to improve North Shields, transforming the town into an “attractive, family-friendly destination”. The £13m Transport Hub and Town Square is funded through the Transforming Cities Fund via Transport North East, the North of Tyne Combined Authority, and North Tyneside Council.

Local musicians will be performing and a series of films made by local schoolchildren, celebrating the town’s rich heritage will be shown on the new big screen in the square.

The building is North Tyneside Council’s first building to be fully carbon-neutral in construction and its operation, as part of the council’s wider aim to be carbon net-zero by 2030.

There are plans for public art to be installed in the Hub. The art has been designed by local artist, Colin Davies, and young people from the area. It honours North Shields’ past, present and future, and some of the designs were chosen by hundreds of North Tyneside residents in a public vote.

The opening of the Transport Hub marks the start of a “big day of celebration” in North Shields, with the free family festival North Tyneside Together also taking place in Northumberland Square. There will be music, entertainment, stalls and fairground rides.

North Tyneside council has already invested millions of pounds to regenerate the area, transforming the historic Northumberland Square, supporting venues for our Cultural and Creative zone, and is creating an Embankment Walkway to link the town to the Fish Quay.

Dame Norma Redfearn, North Tyneside Council’s Elected Mayor, said, “I’m delighted this new Transport Hub and Town Square are opening, as they’re such an important part of our ambitious plans to transform North Shields into an attractive, family-friendly destination.

“It’s fantastic to have local artists work with young people to create public art installations celebrating the heritage of North Shields. I’m also proud that this Hub is the first carbon-neutral building in its construction and operation that we, as a council, have built.

“With buses, the Metro, taxis and cycling infrastructure all in the same place, it’ll be much easier for our residents to choose cleaner and greener forms of travel, bringing us a step closer to our aim of being carbon net-zero by 2030”.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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