Junction
North Road is a relative newcomer in the main street system in the City. Until the mid-19th century there was no street along this alignment - approaches to the City centre from the west were provided by Crossgate (southwest) and Framwellgate/Millburngate (northwest). However, the new street, built to alleviate traffic pressure and ease congestion to the Station, created a dramatic new approach focused on the Castle. It rapidly became a key route into the City centre from the north and from the railway station, and an important shopping street.
The construction of Leazes Road caused this role to diminish. The construction of the large roundabout the western end, the junction with Castle Chare, severed the strong linear route northwards under the railway viaduct and fragmented the urban fabric at a key gateway into the City centre, for all those arriving by car or on foot from the railway station.
This remains the main approach to the City centre from the west and should be an important gateway. As well as walking routes that connect to the residential communities to the west and south west, the area contains the existing and poorly laid out bus station and the most important approach from the railway station. However, the general quality of the public spaces and buildings that define these routes is poor; the main junction – the gateway space – is dominated by traffic and provides very poor facilities for pedestrians; the retail buildings do not meet the needs of modern retail operations and the quality of shopping in North Road in general and at the west end in particular suffers as a result.
There are significant opportunities for change and improvement that relate development opportunities with public realm investment.
The Junction of North Road and Castle Chare should be transformed into a new urban square through which the roads continue to pass, but in which road space, and traffic, is visually and physically less dominant. The roundabout should be replaced by a signal controlled crossroads which will provide at-grade pedestrian crossings on all arms to facilitate walking access to the City centre.
