Newcastle Town Deal - Town Centre Permeability
Wheeling, Walking & Cycle Improvement Scheme – A527 Barracks Road & Hassell Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme
The Town Centre Permeability project is a package of improvements to the walking and cycling network connecting to Newcastle-under-Lyme town centre. Further details can be found on the Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council website.
The cycle infrastructure projects are being promoted by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council with Staffordshire County Council as the local highway authority, delivering the projects through the Infrastructure+ partnership.
We previously completed construction on a new toucan crossing and cycle route near to Keele University at the junction between Cemetery Road and the A525 Keele Road.
Update June 2025:
The next phase of the project on the A527 Barracks Road & Hassell Street is due to commence on 7th July for a period of approximately 11 weeks until late September 2025. Details of temporary roadworks can be found below.
Update May 2025:
We have now completed the detailed design for the next phase of the project on the A527 Barracks Road & Hassell Street, with works due to start on the ground in July 2025, and complete in September 2025. Details of temporary roadworks can be found below.
There have been some changes to the design since the last public consultation in October 2024. These changes include a reduction in the scope of the works to Hassell Street.
Originally, we were proposing a section of two-way cycle lanes and footway widening along the full length of the road, with Hassell Street being made one-way from Hanover Street to Marsh Parade.
However, the design has now been reduced substantially for this phase of work. The existing one-way from Scott Street to Hanover Street will remain, with the existing contraflow cycle lane being retained. Hassell Street will remain two-way from the car park access to Marsh Parade.
Due to the relatively low traffic volumes, our works between Scott Street and Marsh Parade will now comprise a ‘quiet streets’ approach, involving painted on cycle symbols to highlight the presence of cyclists and signify this as the preferred route, providing a link between A52 George Street and A527 Barracks Road. The original proposals for this location will be postponed until such a time when funding becomes available for the final phase of the works.
Scheme Drawings
Below you will find links to drawings illustrating the proposed works on Hassell Street and the changes proposed to the crossing on the A527 Barracks Road.
Temporary roadworks
Works are programmed to commence on w/c 7th July 2025 and continue until late September 2025.
The works at the junction of the A527 Barracks Road and Hassell Street, outside the primary school, have been programmed during the school holidays, with a view that the bulk of the work be completed during the 6-week period, thereby minimising disruption at the start of the next school year.
The works will see a series of lane closures and temporary traffic signals on the A527 Barracks Road from 7th July 2025. These will be a mixture of lane 1 and lane 2 closures, with closure of the bus lane, for a period of approximately 8 weeks. This will allow works to the footways,central reservation and the carriageway. Traffic will be reduced to single lane running for 24hrs per day during this period. This will culminate in a series of overnight road closures at the end of August to complete resurfacing of the carriageway, These closures are currently planned for the nights of 27th, 28th and 29th August.
Hassell Street will be temporarily closed at the junction of Barracks Road from 21st July for 6 weeks. This is to accommodate the footway widening and resurfacing works to the junction. Access to Hassell Street will be maintained via Windsor Street and Scott Street, with a new car park access opened off Windsor Street. Access back onto Barracks Road from Hassell Street will be temporarily stopped whilst works take place, with the diversion signposting road users towards A52 George Street.
In September 2025, there will be some final works on Hassell Street that will require temporary signals for 2 and a half weeks. There will also be short term closures of Hassell Street over several days in September, these are currently planned for 17th and 18th September.
We are aware this is a busy area and works have been programmed to mitigate delays where possible, however some disruption is inevitable, and we would kindly ask that you allow more time for journeys during this period.
These dates may change based on unforeseen delays to the programme. Any changes will be communicated via this website and via on site signage.
The nature of construction works means that some degree of nuisance can be expected, through things such as dust, noise, and vibration. The contractor will however take all reasonable steps to mitigate the impact of this.
Below you will find links to the temporary traffic management drawings:
Summary of Permanent Changes to Road Layout:
Changes to the Junction of the A527 Barracks Road and Hassell Street
The existing junction between Hassell Street and the A527 Barracks Road will be reconfigured to allow for wider footway areas for pedestrians and cyclists. The footway on the south side of Hassell Street, between Garden Street and Barracks Road will be widened and made ‘shared use’, to allow use by both pedestrians and cyclists. To accommodate this, the left turn into Hassell Street from the A527 Barracks Road will be prohibited and instead access to Hassell Street will be made via Windsor Street and Scott Street. Hassell Street will effectively be made one-way from the car park access to Barracks Road. The road will remain two-way between Scott Street and Garden Street, to maintain access to and from Garden Street.
The signalised puffin crossing on Barracks Road will be altered to a toucan facility and widened to allow more width for pedestrians and cyclists – this includes widening of the central reservation. As part of this work, we will also be refurbishing the traffic signals at the junction with the bus station. The footway on the west side of Barracks Road, from Hassell Street to Castle House, will also be widened and made ‘shared use’, thereby providing a cycle link to Ironmarket.
Changes to Windsor Street & Scott Street
The existing 30-minute parking bays on Scott Street will be relocated a short distance away on Windsor Street to allow for turning movements of larger vehicles on the bend, an additional parking space will be added here. The parking bays on the north side of Hassell Street, just east of Scott Street, will be retained, but moved in a north-east direction towards Hanover Street, this is to create space for large vehicles turning left out of Scott Street onto Hassell Street.
The Windsor Street public car park will have a new access created from Windsor Street, the existing access on Hassell Street will also be retained.
Changes to Hassell Street
Due to the relatively low traffic volumes, our works between Scott Street and Marsh Parade will now comprise a ‘quiet streets’ approach, involving painted on cycle symbols to highlight the presence of cyclists and signify this as the preferred route, providing a link between A52 George Street and A527 Barracks Road.
Traffic Regulation Orders
The above changes such as the one-way, toucan crossings and changes to on-street parking will require a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
The below drawings illustrate these changes. The orders were formally advertised from 23 May to 13 June 2025, this included display of notices on site.
Frequently asked questions.
- Answer:
- Shared use footways allow use by both pedestrians and cyclists and will be made wide enough to accommodate both users within the same space. A full height kerb will separate pedestrians and cyclists from the road.
- Answer:
This is the second phase of the Newcastle Permeability project, with the initial phase having already been delivered in 2023. The completed works saw the introduction of improvements for walking, wheeling and cycling linking ‘The Hamptons’ housing development on Keele Road with existing infrastructure across Cemetery Road at Gallowstree roundabout.
This second phase will also provide improvements that will have benefits for all walking, wheeling and cycling users. This includes improved crossings, widened footways and improved green space outside of the primary school, with alterations to the existing signalised crossing on Barracks Road.
This will also extend on works completed on the A52 George Street, providing a safe link for cyclists between Stoke-on-Trent to Newcastle town centre. It will also connect with future cycle schemes in Newcastle creating uninterrupted links from the town centre to Keele University to the west and the Newcastle Greenway to the north.
- Answer:
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council were successful in securing funding directly from Central Government as part of the Town Deal initiative. There is also additional funding being provided by Staffordshire County Council in the form of 3rd party developer contributions.
- Answer:
- The combined budget for both phases of the works is £986,000.
- Answer:
- No, all costs for this project will be met by funding secured from Central Government through the Town Deal initiative or from 3rd party developer contributions.
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- Encourages alternative greener travel options.
- Helps to support the North Staffordshire Local Air Quality Plan (NSLAQP).
- Improvements in health, both physical and mental.
- Reduced vehicle omissions.
- Reduced infrastructure maintenance costs.
- Reduces the strain on NHS.
- Increased retail opportunities.
- Answer:
The proposals will improve the connectivity east to west across the town centre joining the existing route on the A52 George Street. With wider links between Stoke-on-Trent station and Keele University. It will include better quality footways, safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists, a cycle network that is easy to navigate and separation of pedestrians, cyclists, and traffic. By providing the safer space this will hopefully encourage a greater number of cyclists.
Following completion of the works to George Street there will be continuous monitoring of the route to fully assess the impact of these improvements. However, in a relatively short period of time since the works were completed anecdotal evidence suggests that the numbers of wheeled users are increasing.
- Answer:
Investing in infrastructure to provide safe, attractive, convenient walking and cycling routes are a means by which the built environment can have a positive influence on improving physical and mental wellbeing. Walking and cycling, whether as transport or recreation, is beneficial to mental health, can help to tackle problems of inactivity and contribute to the wider obesity agenda:
- Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death in the UK.
- Increased investment in cycling and walking could help narrow social economic inequalities in physical activity levels, as those from lower social economic backgrounds are more likely to use active travel (like cycling and walking) than those from more affluent backgrounds.
- Tackling obesity is one of the greatest long-term health challenges currently faced in England and the COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the health consequences of living with an unhealthy weight.
- Answer:
Walking and cycling can contribute to some of the wider determinants of health including improved air quality and tackling climate change through reducing emissions and improving air quality:
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In 2019, transport accounted for a third (34%) of all carbon dioxide emissions, the majority arising from road travel. In England, 56% of car journeys are under 5 miles, a distance most people could manage by bike.
North Staffordshire Local Air Quality Plan (NSLAQP)
Newcastle Borough Council have a legal duty to monitor and assess local air quality and to find out whether they will be able to meet national air quality targets.
Air pollution is linked with cancer, heart disease and respiratory disease. New research also suggests that people who live in areas with high levels of pollution may be more at risk of developing dementia.
Evidence from the World Health Organisation shows that poor air quality is particularly dangerous for children, older people and those already living with long-term health conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The effects on our health build over time.
- Answer:
This is the second phase of the Newcastle Permeability project, with the initial phase having already been delivered in 2023. The first phase of works saw the introduction of improvements for walking, wheeling and cycling linking ‘The Hamptons’ housing development on Keele Road with existing infrastructure across Cemetery Road at Gallowstree roundabout.
The second phase of the Newcastle Permeability project looks to further develop on works to the A52 George Street which were completed in 2022; providing a safe link for cyclists between Stoke-on-Trent to Newcastle town centre.
Other schemes programmed for future delivery include new and improvements to existing infrastructure linking Newcastle town centre with The Hamptons housing development via Silverdale Road and Orme Road. Upon completion this would create an uninterrupted link from Newcastle town centre to Keele University to the west.
A second scheme will look to provide improved accessibility for wheeling, walking and cycling along Station Walks. This current proposal is in development for delivery in 2026 but will see an extension of the Newcastle Greenway from Brampton Sidings, along Station Walks and Water Street, to the A52 George Street.
The options here are to provide improved wider shared footway/cycleway with improvements to crossings at four road junctions along the route.
- Answer:
- Amey Transport Infrastructure – Staffordshire County Council Infrastructure+ Contractor
- Answer:
- The works are planned to commence in July 2025 and complete in September 2025. The exact dates and durations have been communicated to stakeholders, on our website and via letter drop to directly affected frontages.
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- The site working hours are 07:30 to 16:30 – Monday to Friday, with a series of overnight road closures at the end of the programme that will be from 20:00 to 06:00.
- Answer:
The works at the junction of the A527 Barracks Road and Hassell Street, outside the primary school, have been programmed during the school holidays, with a view that the bulk of the work be completed during the 6-week period, thereby minimising disruption at the start of the next school year.
The works will see a series of lane closures and temporary traffic signals on the A527 Barracks Road from 7 July 2025. These will be a mixture of lane 1 and lane 2 closures, with closure of the bus lane, for a period of approximately 8 weeks. This will allow works to the footways,central reservation and the carriageway. Traffic will be reduced to single lane running for 24hrs per day during this period. This will culminate in a series of overnight road closures at the end of August to complete resurfacing of the carriageway, These closures are currently planned for the nights of 27, 28 and 29 August.
Hassell Street will be temporarily closed at the junction of Barracks Road from 21 July for 6 weeks. This is to accommodate the footway widening and resurfacing works to the junction. Access to Hassell Street will be maintained via Windsor Street and Scott Street, with a new car park access opened off Windsor Street. Access back onto Barracks Road from Hassell Street will be temporarily stopped whilst works take place, with the diversion signposting road users towards A52 George Street.
In September 2025, there will be some final works on Hassell Street that will require temporary signals for 2 and a half weeks. There will also be short term closures of Hassell Street over several days in September, these are currently planned for 17 and 18 September
- Answer:
- Access to Hassell Street will be maintained via Windsor Street and Scott Street, both in the temporary and permanent situation. Access back onto Barracks Road from Hassell Street will be temporarily stopped whilst works take place, with the diversion signposting road users towards A52 George Street.
- Answer:
- Overnight road closures will be required at the end of August to allow for resurfacing of the carriageway. There may be a requirement to undertake some weekend working to complete the works and minimise disruption to traffic, this is usually done to avoid peak times and reduce disruption.
- Answer:
- Access to the bus station will be maintained, however the bus lane will be temporarily closed during the lane closures on A527 Barracks Road. The right turns in and out of the bus station will also be temporarily halted to allow the temporary traffic signals to operate in a more efficient manner to keep mainline traffic moving. A very short diversion route will be put in place for access to and from the bus station, this will involve diverting services around the two roundabouts at either end of Barracks Road. This has been communicated to bus operators and the public.
- Answer:
- Access to Public Car Parks will be maintained throughout the duration of the works. A new access to the Windsor Street car park will be created from Windsor Street itself, the access on Hassell Street, to the same car park, will be retained in the permanent situation but temporarily closed during the works.
Contact
If you have any questions about the work or concerns about how the work is being carried out, please contact us: