EXCLUSIVE by Martin Walker
An exciting £2m makeover of Newton Aycliffe’s town centre has finally been revealed.
And work on the third phase of a £10m ‘Master Plan’ for our shopping centre is expected to start within two weeks!
We can exclusively reveal plans that have been revealed by the town centre management which show how the ramp will come down, and the whole look will change.
We’re told work will start on Monday 4th February and is due to be completed by early November.
We’ll bring you Video Interviews from Freshwater and the architect behind the plans on Thursday.
We’ll also bring you reaction from MP Phil Wilson and Durham County Council.
Before and after images, using artist’s impressions, are below.
Meanwhile, the plans were on show for residents of the town centre today as part of an Open Day.
The proposed Phase III works includes:
• The demolition of the existing ramp leading to the first floor/upper level Beveridge Way.
• The demolition of the Boyes ramp from the roof car park to the landing of the Beveridge Way ramp.
• The demolition of the spiral stair.
• Removal of the heavy canopies to the elevation of Beveridge Way facing southeast.
• The removal of the existing trees, containers and street furniture.
• Take up the existing concrete paving flags in programmed stages.
Followed by:
• Construction of new robust hard surface finishes to Beveridge Way, co-ordinating tree planting, lighting and street furniture layout.
• Construction of a new ramp from the rooftop car park to the first floor level centre management suite and shops and making good work to parapet wall, car park surface and the first floor level balustrade.
• Construct new external spiral stair and make good first floor level balustrade.
• Refurbishment works to the elevations of the retail blocks to both sides of Beveridge Way.
• Improved street lighting
• New street furniture incorporating local artwork
The first phase of the town centre ‘Master Plan’ redevelopment was Tesco and the relocation of the library.
The second phase included the demolition of the old library and surrounding buildings and the construction of the new Aldi store.
The third phase is the forthcoming makeover of the town centre itself.
A fourth phase, which involves the demolition of the shops along Beveridge Arcade and opening up the other end of the town centre, can’t begin until 2014 but will total around £10m spent on the whole redevelopment.
16 Comments
Des Swallow
January 23, 2013 at 10:29 pmJust wondered when Coffee Pronto was moving, as this is the only place left up the ramp. if they remove the ramp how are people meant to get to Coffee Pronto who have mobility problems or pushchairs if it is gone? Rumor has it they are moving into the old Julies Pets shop. they will need to do this up before they can pull the ramp down surely?
julie ferguson
January 23, 2013 at 10:57 pmit would be so easy to make this all under cover or indoor shopping mall .
ANN MASSON
January 26, 2013 at 9:39 pmIt would but the planners think that we have good weather all year round.
Rutheliz
January 31, 2013 at 4:47 pmYes while they were about it they could cover the whole area and make it a mall. But we will be lucky to get anything at this rate… Weve waited over 10 years for this. I will believe it when I see it.
chris peacock
January 24, 2013 at 10:01 amAll the town will need then is new shops like primark, lidl, iceland, and more security cameras to ensure that the town is not subjected to mindless vandalism
Chris Linton
January 24, 2013 at 10:24 amHas anyone ever been to the Billingham Forum? If not then get yourself over there, it is amazing! Though when you do you will wonder why on earth the people of Aycliffe have to make do with a run down building like the Rec in the town centre, when they get rid of the buildings in Beveridge way then why not build a proper extension to the Rec (as well as give the place a face-lift too), Do what they have done at Billingham and build an Ice Rink that could also double up as a Basketball arena for the Durham Wildcats to play their home games in. There are currently no Ice Rinks in County Durham, the closest two being Billingham and Whitley Bay!
Judgey
January 24, 2013 at 2:52 pmAgree, A few bits of Steel and Glass and there would be an Ideal undercover shopping centre which would utilise the whole space more efficiently and provide more space for traders and a more comfortable environment for shoppers. They’ve definitely gone cheap on the architects or are not willing to spend what the town deserves after waiting so long, 10million for a town which is far far from a new town and in serious need of bringing into the 21st century is a bit cheap I think…..
Bev Hutchinson
January 24, 2013 at 5:09 pmAs a customer of Stephen Russell, hairdressers, can you tell me how will we get access to the salon? If the spiral staircase, and ramps are to be demolished?
affer
January 24, 2013 at 6:56 pmIs it just the ramp or that whole seventies walkway past Harry Hardings.
Les Allison
January 24, 2013 at 7:54 pmNock it down & start again it is still look like a cold war concrete dive a few trees isn’t going to make much difference
ANN MASSON
January 26, 2013 at 9:38 pmI agree the whole thing should be knocked down and rebuilt. Why do they have to put trees in when they have just removed some?
Steve Jones
January 24, 2013 at 8:40 pmall thats needed now are some decent shops. we have not got any phone shops, fast food like burger king, good clothing shops, home bargain type shops etc.
just pop over to tindale creasent and see how much investment as attracted good shops to Bishop
ANN MASSON
January 26, 2013 at 9:36 pmSeemingly Coffee Pronto is going where the old post office was. How are people going to get to Stephen Russell and Elachi if they are disabled etc as they are only replacing the staircase with a spiral one. Not good considering the only other way is going to be through the multistorey carpark or using the lifts which dont always work and the carpark isn’t always accessible.
Adele Lambert
January 26, 2013 at 11:08 pmI moved to aycliffe from darlington 10yrs ago when the town centre was full of different shops, and the news of redevelopment had just been announced. This was at the time great news now 10 years later there has been a tesco supermarket and an aldi and that is all that has been acheived in all this time, in the mean time more and more businesses have abandoned the town centre it is a sorry place to go. I hope we do not have to wait another 10 yrs for this redevelopment to take place as surely a town the size of newton aycliffe deserves more than the sorry excuse we have now. Compared to bishop auckland that has 7 supermarkets and various big name shops we just cannot compete.
carol balmer
January 29, 2013 at 8:11 pmAs a resident of this town for 60 years all i can say is its not got any better its only got worse. I found out before christmas that once the ramp comes down the walkway along pronto cafe is going to be bricked up as there is a problem with the brick work, so that will look wonderful and as for new shops have just heard that Mackeys is going to close in march due to rent revue that did not go to well, just wonder how many more shops will close before christmas.
Rutheliz
January 31, 2013 at 4:54 pmIf it’s true that M&Co are closing, one of the best shops in Aycliffe. It doesn’t bode well. You have shops closing like Peter’s Bakery only to be replaced by Cooplands, so nothing gained there just another baker replacing the old one. Other shops won’t come here if the likes of M&Co are going because of a rent review, what hope for small independants. We will hopefully have a lovely town centre that we’ve always wanted with the trees, new street furniture etc but NO decent shops.