Phase 2 engagement on Front Street, Acomb
Throughout 2023 we spoke with to local representatives, stakeholders, and with urban designers, to explore what might be achievable for Acomb Front Street with the Phase 2 funding.
The Acomb Front Street Phase 2 consultation closed on Sunday 24 March 2024.
We engaged with local residents, businesses and the wider community to share and test ideas and options for 4 key elements:
- enhance the high street
- create a more accessible destination
- extend the benefits beyond the high street
- longer term aspirations
These aim to:
- improve the visitor experience and promote businesses
- create a more family friendly and accessible destination
- improve the pedestrian character and reduce the dominance of the road and vehicles
- define a welcome space and central space within the shopping area to create a start point for future ideas and phases to further develop these in the future
- explore the future possibilities for more significant change such as pedestrianisation
Given this funding alone won’t achieve all of the community’s aspirations for the area, we want to understand your priorities, so we make the improvements that matter the most to you.
Your feedback will inform the detailed design which we will share later this year.
Some potential areas to address
We’ve suggested some areas which we’ve identified could be improved within the existing budget. We want to hear what you think and any ideas or thoughts you may have.
- declutter
- bollards
- wide generous crossings for people
- misuse of blue badge parking
Challenges and opportunities
Depending on which changes need to be made to the area there are a few challenges and constraints that will need to be overcome.
Funding - £570,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) for Acomb improvements. This funding will not be able to achieve everything you have told us you want to see change in Acomb Front Street. We want to hear your priorities so we make the improvements that matter the most to you and so that any design is achievable and affordable.
Timescale - works need to be completed by the UKSPF deadline which is March 2025.
Land ownership - Some areas of the high street are privately owned, so proposals in these areas would require permission from multiple landowners.
Highway usage - Front Street shopping area currently has ‘2 lives’ depending on the day and time, a pedestrianised space when the gate is shut and a street with vehicles running through it when the gate is open.
Illegal parking - Phase 1 introduced bollards to tackle illegal parking. We're looking at ways to reduce the number of bollards while still protecting the kerb.
People-friendly space - Understanding what you want from this space in the long-term.