LC

Mast

Vicarage

Track

33m

34m

33m

39m

36m

50m

45m

45m

WansbeckAir Vents

Cemy

Allotment Gardens

Leisure

Centre

PW

PW

PW

PWSch

Car Pk

Cricket

Ground

35m

Pav

35m

PW

Car

Park

Liby

PO

YMCA

PW

PW

Bus Sta

Govt

Offices

Coun

Offs

35m

Track

Path

Business

Park

School

PW

TA Centre

Superstore

Car Park

ROTARYPARKWAY

A197

STATION ROADKEN

ILWO

RTH

RO

AD

RO

AD

ASHBOURNE CRESCENT

WEST

VIEW

LINTONVILLE

PARKWAY

P A R K VIEW

PARK VIEW

LINTO

NVILLE

TE

RR

AC

E

A196

JOH

NSTREET

BOO

THS

RO

AD

REIVERDALE

ROAD

INST

ITU

TER

OAD

HALDANESTREET

BO

OT

HS

RD

A197

L I NT O

NV

I L L

RD

STATION

CT

WO

OD

HO

RN

WVHTUOS

STATION RD

LC

KLO

FR

ON

MS

KC

EB

SN

AW

BOO

THS

RD

SM

KC

EB

SN

AW

ESSEX CLE

TEL

LIV

NO

TNI

L

VIEWSOUTH

791A

TE

E

Issues

outdated public realm / cluttered streets

ashington leisure centre rotary parkway

rotary parkway

asda

poundstretcher

wansbeck square

ashington leisure centre

coop

woodhorn road

station road

ashington north east quarter

station road

asda

objectives | ashington investment plan / movement strategy

• tore-establishAshingtontowncentreasathrivinghearttothetown;• toimprovetheexperienceofpedestriansandpublictransportusers;• toimprovethevitalityofthemainshoppingthoroughfareonStationRoad;• toimproveconnectivitythroughoutAshington;and• tocreateamorewalkable,activeandhealthytowncentre

approach

The concept for the town centre has been to create a series of interlinked formal urban spaces linking the new and revitalised retail, commercial, civic and leisure quarters of Ashington.

This network of spaces provides opportunities for formal and informal gatherings, relaxed interaction and a healthy walkable and engaged public realm.

ashington leisure centre

wansbeck square

GRAND CORNER

Gateway to the town centre and heart

of the retail quarter

COMMERCIAL SQUARE

A lively space linking the retail loop

with the civic square

CIVIC SQUARE

A public space that permits public

gatherings

HEALTH & LEISURE

A public space and northern bookend

to Ashington’s Investment Plan linking

the community & leisure centre with

Station Road

STATION ROAD

Revitalisation of the existing retail

heart and southern bookend to

Ashington’s Investment Plan

existing parking provision quantity

total parking available in Ashington town centre 1120

total parking ‘customer protected’ 660

total parking for public use 460

asda service& parking

gatedaccess gated

access

main throughroute

! congestion

! ‘customer only’ parking! congestion

! poor pedestrian crossing

! poor pedestrian routes & connections

a new north-south street to reduce

traffic volume on Lintonville Terrace

transformation of grand corner to create

free flowing, de-cluttered & attractive space

a new main route into Ashington

a new east-west street to reduce traffic

volume on Lintonville Terrace & provide a

legible public realm network

ashington town centre | existing network infrastructure

existing street arrangement

existing arrangement : market day

43a43

41a39

3735

3331

2927

2523

21a21

1917

1513

117

5

3

1

68

1012

14

1822

26

3234

36

5052

5456

58

911a

4549

16

24

2830

3840

4244

4648

58a

58b

ThereisrecognitionoftheneedtoimprovetheappearanceandpedestrianexperiencealongStationRoadandinstigateasenseofvitalitytoAshington’shighstreet.

While through longer term regeneration proposals StationRoadis likelytobebook-endedbydevelopmentsandgeneratean increased footfall and custom, there is a need to carry outimprovementsintheshorttermtoencouragelocalpeoplebackinthetowncentre.

43a43

41a39

3735

3331

2927

2523

21a21

1917

1513

117

5

3

1

68

1012

14

1822

26

3234

36

5052

5456

58

911a

4549

16

24

2830

3840

4244

4648

58a

58b

raised planters

shelter

street furniture brick wall / gateway

brick wall / gateway

bandstand

statue

Existing Commercial Property Occupiers [north]

Building No. Occupier1 Superdrug3 LloydsTSB5 WilliamHill7 Barclays9 Barclays

11 HealthierSmoker11a Subway13 Scope15 GraingerGames17 CardFactory19 Halifax21 SueRyderCare21a Vacant23 Holland&Barrett25 TheFruitShop27 Select29 Vacant(QueensNews)31 Semichem33 Vacant35 Vacant/BaileysBlinds37 CarphoneWarehouse39 Coral41a WillowTreeDeli/BargainBuys43 BritishHeartFoundation43a ShoeZone45 PriceBusters49 Brighthouse

Existing Commercial Property Occupiers [south]

Building No. Occupier2 Poundland4 NewLook6 Arthritis8 EE

10 NewcastleBuildingSociety12 Vacant14 HeronFoods16 St.Oswald’sHospice18 O222 SalvationArmy24 Savers26 328 Boots30 Boots32 Greggs34 Clark’s36 Hays38 Vacant40 Al’sBakersPantry42 DorothyPerkins44 Burton46 M&Co.48 M&Co.50 Inspiration52 Thomson54 AshingtonChippy56 MobilityDirect58 Children’sSociety58a Bubbles58b Vapes

station road improvements | existing situation

common outcomes

market traders

events

taxis

town traders

mobility groups

buses

market traders

concernedlimitedpotentialforexpansion

considerinfrastructuredated&acleaner,less-clutteredstreetwouldbedesirable

considermarkethasahistoricfeeltoit:a‘meetingplace’andplaceforsocialinteraction

accessdifficultateachendofStationRoadbutworkable

preferencetoremainonStationRoad(previouslocationunsuccessful)

relocationduringconstructionnotdesired

accessandparkingofvansaknownproblem(mustenterbefore7am;exitby8am)

considermarketstallsagoodfitwiththetown-donotwishtoexpandatexpenseofquality

suggestionthesuccessofmarketcouldsupportaseconddayduringsummer

windtunneleffectalongstationroadcausesissueswithlitterandincreasedcleaningcosts

markettodisplayadegreeofconsistencyinarrangement,lookandfeel

desiretoattractspecialitymarkets

noavailableparkingspacesfortradersafter8am-requestdedicatedareaformarkettraders

markettraderscurrentlyusegenerators-wouldwelcomeintegratedpowersources

groundanchorsdesirableformarketstalls(especiallyregardingexposed/windsweptaspect)

requiregoodqualitypermanentlightingforsetup/tradingduringhoursofdarkness

events programme

organisedeventsinc.ChristmasLightsswitch-on;andAshingtonFairDay.Otherevents‘ad-hoc’

AshingtonFairpopularbutlimitedbystreetdesign.Eventrequiresroadclosure

bandstandneverusedsinceitsinstallation-compromisesopportunitiesonmarketdays/events

only1ofthe3flagpoleseverused.Suggestedrelocation

dedicatedeventspacenotnecessaryaseventsfitaroundavailablespace

stagesbroughtintosuiteventrequirements-permanentstagenotnecessary

concernswindtunneleffectofstationroadcausesissueswithlitterandincreasedcostsforNCC

concernedasecondmarketdaywouldincreasestreetcleaningcosts

additional‘FoodFest’eventplannedoccupyingfulllengthofstreet

funfairset-uponan‘ad-hoc’basis-needtoapproachNeighbourhoodServicesforpermission

desirabletoassignanEventsManageratNCCtomanageevents/permits

standardpolicyofrequirements&expectationsdesirablefromNCCforevents,mobilestallsetc.

NCCpolicywouldassistinraisingstandardsofeventsandimproveHealth&Safety

desiretoremovebrickwallstoeachendofstreet(thoughnotedtheyprovidevaluablewindbreak)

desireforgroundanchorsandintegratedpowersources

suggestionifroadreopened,roadclosurewouldberequiredat4-5eventsperyear+marketday

concernsraisedifStationRoadopensforbuses,issuesmayariseforevent/marketroadclosures

taxi operators

taxiranksusedbybothAshington&PhoenixTaxis-operationisa‘dynamic’situation

taxirankspositionedatbothendsofStationRoad-mainrankof5baysoutsideTSB

carsarrivetopick-upfares‘ad-hoc’whencontractedfaresnotavailable(variableday/night)

privatecarsuseranksforparkingwithnoenforcement(inexcessofdesignatedspaces)

shortageofspaceattherankforbufferingtaxis

trafficsignalsmakecongestioninevitablewithservicevehicles,bluebadgeholders&pedestrians

trafficlightphasingdoesnothelpvehiclemovement-freeflowingroundaboutmaybepreferable

rollingranknotcurrentlyanoption

removalofstreetfurnitureandwallingdesirabletoprovidealineofsightbetweentaxiranks

vehiclesusebacklanesas‘rat-runs’duetopedestrianisedstreet

AshingtonTaxissuggestedopeningupStationRoadtotrafficwouldimprovepick-up/drop-off

PhoenixTaxisexpressedsafetyconcernsifStationRoadopenedtotraffic

consensusthatStationRoadneedsataxirank-mainissue‘taxibuffering’/queuing

suggestedtaxirank&roadclosuresunorganised/unplannedandchallengingfortaxis

drop-off/pick-upforcestaxisintocongestedareaduetopresenceofguardrailing

desiretode-clutterstreetremovingallunnecessaryfixedfeatures

scaleoftaxioperationneedstobeappropriatetothestreetsetting

potentialforbufferingsolutiontoutilisebackLintonvillelaneasaloop-tobeconsidered

ifStationRoadopenedtotraffic,carefulconsiderationnecessaryforroadwidth/‘in-line’taxirank

concerneddevelopmentofAshingtoncouldattractadditionaltaxioperators-controlnecessary

common outcomes |featurespublicfeltimportant

opentheroaduptothroughtraffic

providenewstreetfurnitureincludingseating

retainJackieMilburnstatue

provideflexiblespaceforeventdays

provideflexiblespaceforweeklymarketday

provideon-streetparkingforshopping

provideabusservice

station road improvements | the issues

Communalseatingareascarefullyarrangedtoaccommodatespacesforwheelchairsandpramsandprovideopportunitiesforsittinginbothshadeandfullsun

OpportunityforJackieMilburnstatuetoberetained&relocatedonthehighstreet

Generousplantingbedsincorporatingdecorativetreesandplantingandframedwithintegratedseating

Cyclestandstoprovidesecurestorageofbicycles

Fullypedestrianisedstreetprovidingasafe,openandflexiblestreetwithacentralzoneforeventsandmarketdaysincorporatingseatingareasandcolourfulplantingbeds

Precastconcretepavingflagstofootwaysinfrontofretailunits

Precastconcreteblockpavingtoclearlyidentifycentralevent/activityzone

Unobstructedfootway

(3.5mapprox)

Unobstructedfootway

(5mapprox)

Flexibleeventszoneincorporatingseatingareas,treesandplantingwithspacefororganisedeventsandmarketstalls

(12m)

key features:

• Fullypedestrianisedspace

• Decorativelockablegatesateachendofstreettorestrictvehicularaccess(forservicevehicles;markettraders;emergencyservices;maintenance)

• Clearandunobstructedfootwaysalongretailfrontages

• Centralactivityzone/eventspaceformarketstallsandorganisedseasonalevents

• Largebedsofplantinganddecorativetreestoprovidecolourandseasonalinterestandprovideshelterforintegratedseating

• Clusteredseatingareas

• Plantersincorporatingdecorativetrees

• Cycleparking

• Opportunitiesforre-locationofJackieMilburnstatueandretainedonhighstreet

station road improvements | upgraded pedestrianised street

1st Proposal

materials key

typical section through station road

wansbeck square

grand corner

1

1 1 2 33 4 5

2

2

2

3

3

3

5

5

4

advantages

Safeopenflexiblestreetwithaccessonlyformarkettraders,servicevehicles,emergencyservicesandmaintenance

Reduceschanceofconflictbetweenpedestrians/cyclistswithlivetraffic

Clearandunobstructedfootwaysadjacenttoretailfrontages

Centralactivityzoneforevents,marketstallsandorganisedseasonalevents

Largeplantingareasanddecorativetreestoprovideshelterforintegratedseating

clusteredseatingareas

Sharedcyclefacilityincludingcycleparking

Enforcedbylockablepivotinggates

disadvantages

Nothroughtraffic

Nopassingtrade

Noon-streetparking

Nobusservice

progression to 2nd proposal

Unobstructedfootway(3.5mapprox)

Parking(2.4m)

Carriageway(3m)

Median(1.8m)

Carriageway(3m)

Busstop,seatingparking(2.4m)

Unobstructedfootway(4.4mapprox)

Centralmediantoseparatecarriagewaysandassistinreducingroadspeedandsaferpedestriancrossing

Localisedenlargedspacesonthestreetprovideopportunitiesforoutdoordining

Raisedcourtesycrossingstoassistinreducingroadspeedandprovidehighlyconspicuouspedestriancrossingsatregularintervalsalongthestreet

Communalseatingareasconvenientlylocatedonbothsidesofthestreetadjacenttothebusstop

Plantingbedscontrolparkingareasandprovideyearroundseasonalinterest.Robust‘bookends’protectplantsandprovideadditionalseating

Busstop(westbound)locatedonsouthsideofthestreetwithacoveredshelterandintegratedseating(imageindicative)

OpportunityforJackieMilburnstatuetoberetained&relocatedonthehighstreet

Precastconcretepavingflagstofootwaysinfrontofretailunits

Precastconcreteblockpavingtoparkingbaysandroadchannels

Stonesettpavingtocourtesycrossings

materials key

key features:

• Streetopento2-waytrafficincludingbuses

• Provisionofupto30parkingspaces

• Central‘median’betweenroadwaystoassistinreducingroadspeedandfacilitatepedestriancrossing

• Clearandunobstructedfootwaysalongretailfrontages

• Generouspedestrian‘courtesy’crossings

• Clusteredseatingareas

• Plantingbedsframedwithseatingtocontrolparkingareas,provideplacestorestandprovideyearroundseasonalinterest

• Busstops(incarriageway)inbothdirectionswithcoveredbussheltersandintegratedseating

• Communalseatingareasonbothsidesofthestreet

• Opportunitiesforre-locationofJackieMilburnstatueandretainedonhighstreet

• Sufficientspaceforlocationoflockablecyclestands

station road improvements | open to 2-way traffic

wansbeck square

grand corner

11

1

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

23

3

5

7

7

6

6

6

4

2nd Proposal

advantages

Opentothroughtraffic

Willprovidepassingtrade

Opentoabusservice

AccessintoAshingtonTownCentrefrombothdirections

Elementsofon-streetparallelparkingprovision

Disabledparkingbays

Provisionofbusshelters

Clearandunobstructedfootwaysadjacenttoretailfrontages

Generouspedestrian‘courtesycrossings’

Plantingbedsframedwithseating

disadvantages

Nospaceformarketstalls

Maybeusedasa‘ratrun’bypassingtrafficbringingincreasedtrafficontograndcorner

Reducedpedestrianareas

Reducedareasforstreetcafe/seating

progression to preferred proposal

echelonparkingprovidesspaceforupto30carsincluding6designatedaccessibleparkingbays

Linearplantersprovidealandscapedbufferbetweenthecarriagewayandthegenerouslyproportionedsouthfacingpedestrianstreet

Unobstructedfootway(4mapprox)

Carriageway(westbound)

(3m)

LinearPlantingbed(2m)

Parking(5m)

1

1

1

1

1

2

2

2

3

33

3

5

5

56 4

1 2 3 4 5 6

Communalseatingareasconvenientlylocatedonbothsidesofthestreetadjacenttothebusstop

Raisedcourtesycrossingstoassistinreducingroadspeedandprovidehighlyconspicuouspedestriancrossingsatregularintervalsalongthestreet

Busstoplocatedonbothsidesofthestreetwithacoveredshelterandintegratedseating(imageindicative)

OpportunityforJackieMilburnstatuetoberetained&relocatedonthehighstreet

key features:

• Streetopento1-waytrafficincludingbuses(westboundonly)

• Provisionofupto30parkingspaces(including6accessiblebays)

• Clearandunobstructedfootwaysalongretailfrontages

• Flexible‘activityzone’toaccommodatemarketstalls,events,streettheatreetc

• Linearplantingbedstoprovideabufferbetweenthecarriagewayandthegenerouslyproportionedpedestrian/activityzone

• Conspicuouspedestrian‘courtesy’crossingslocatedatregularintervalsalongthestreet

• Clusteredseatingareas

• Plantingbedsframedwithseatingtocontrolparkingareas,provideplacestorestandprovideyearroundseasonalinterest

• Busstop(inroadway)withcoveredbusshelterandintegratedseating

• Opportunitiesforre-locationofJackieMilburnstatueandretainedonhighstreet

• Sufficientspaceforlocationoflockablecyclestands

station road improvements | open to 1-way traffic (westbound)

wansbeck square

grand corner

Precastconcretepavingflagstofootwaysinfrontofretailunits

Precastconcreteblockpavingtoparkingbaysandroadchannels

Stonesettpavingtocourtesycrossings

materials key

Precastconcreteblockpavingtoclearlyidentifycentralevent/activityzone

Unobstructedfootway

(3.5mapprox)Activityzone&seatingareas

(3m)

Preferred Proposal

advantages

Opentothroughtraffic

Willprovidepassingtrade

Opentoabusservice(westboundonly)

Provisionofapproximately30on-streetandeasyaccessechelonparkingbaysincluding6disabledbays

Clearandunobstructedfootwaysalongretailfrontages

Flexible‘activityzone’toaccommodatenewmarketstalls,events,streettheatreetc

Plantingbedstoprovideabufferbetweenthecarriagewayandpedestrianareas

Conspicuouspedestrian‘courtesycrossings’locatedatvariouspositionsalongthestreet

Clusteredseatingareas

Plantingbedsframedwithseatingtocontrolparkingareas,provideplacestorestandprovideyearroundseasonalinterest

Busstopinrunninglanewithshelterandintegratedseating

Sufficientspaceforsharedpedestrianandcycleareaswithlockagecyclestands

disadvantages

Onlyopentotrafficinawesterlydirection

station road improvements | open to 1-way traffic (westbound) | concept visuals

station road on market daystreet view

Preferred Proposal