The finishing touches are being made to a major scheme that has been revitalising Hexham’s historic town centre - with work due to be completed by the end of May 2024. 

 

Over £3.5 million has been invested to make the town centre a more attractive and vibrant place for people to live, work and visit, while also enhancing the Conservation Area status of the town centre.    
 

To complete the scheme, road resurfacing is due to take place and the county council is giving advance notice of evening road closures which will enable this work to take place quickly, safely and with minimum disruption. 

 

There will be resurfacing of Priestpopple, Battle Hill and Cattle Market which will require temporary evening road closures at the junction of Eastgate (B6306) and along Argyle Terrace from 6pm to 11pm. The works will commence on Tuesday 7th May and will be in place for up to eight consecutive evenings until the road is fully surfaced – weather permitting. 

 

An evening diversion will be in operation during this time via the A695 Corbridge Road and the B6307 at Dilston, B6306, C280, C282 through Whitley Chapel (to avoid B66306 Linnels Bridge that is unsuitable for heavy vehicles) before re-joining the B6306 and this will be well signposted.  

 

The improvement work is part of over £3.5 m investment which has boosted the town centre through the Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) delivered by Northumberland County Council in partnership with Historic England.  
 

A public realm scheme has included work to enhance pedestrian safety and add colour to the centre with new planters and trees, which will be installed during May. On-street parking has also been reconfigured to include an accessible parking bay, an electric vehicle charging point and wider bays.  Heritage street lighting and improved street furniture have also been installed. 
 

The repaving work is largely completed and over the next few weeks the site compound and barriers will be gradually removed and the one-way system will end. 

 

A total of 10 heritage buildings in the town centre have also been refurbished and revitalised with the help of building grants matched with private sector investment through the HSHAZ scheme.  
 

This has resulted in significant improvements to frontages and enabled vacant buildings to be brought back into use while also preserving the historic architecture and design of the town for future generations.   
 

Councillor Wojciech Ploszaj, Cabinet Member for Supporting Business and Opportunities, said:  

“We are now in the final stage of the improvement work and the whole scheme is on-track to be completed by the end of May. 

“We once again thank businesses and residents for their patience and understanding whilst this important work is carried out to make much needed improvements to this beautiful and historic town. 
 

“The town has undergone some major improvement work and is really starting to look restored and revitalised with its historic town centre preserved for future generations. “ 

 

Hexham High Streets Heritage Action Zone is part of a £95 million government-funded programme led by Historic England. It is designed to secure lasting improvements and rejuvenate historic high streets. The programme ends in March 2024.