Ashington town centre improvements continue

23 Jul 2025

The Council’s £36m transformation of Ashington town centre continues to gather pace. 

Portland Park cinema is set to begin construction in Autumn 2025 on the back of a number of improvements to the town being completed this summer. 

Five cinema screens, a family-orientated competitive socialising space and two restaurant units will provide a major boost adding to previous investment in the retail and leisure offer in this part of town. 

Led by Advance Northumberland, planning approval was granted earlier this year, and the operator REEL Cinemas have restated their commitment to boosting the leisure offer in the town.  The construction contract has been procured, and Advance will be working with a preferred contractor to finalise the scheme ahead of construction. 

The project is subject to Cabinet approval in September and is being funded by UK Government (MHCLG), NCC and Advance Northumberland. 

Work to improve the rear of Lintonville Terrace, Woodhorn Road and the vacant plot on Portland Park to make it a more welcoming, safe and accessible part of town is well advanced and is mostly complete. 

The works include additional street lighting and signage, road surfacing and paving and a new path and grassed area on the vacant development site.  Part of the scheme will be completed later in 2025 in terms of new paving between Lintonville Terrace and Portland Park.  

The vacant plot on Portland Park will open in late summer as a new green space with the site continuing to be marketed for longer term commercial use.    

Delivery of the new Wansbeck Square gateway is now set to start construction in early 2026.  The demolition of Wansbeck Square will be completed by the end of July 2025 and the council is focused on creating a welcoming and attractive gateway and accessible link between the town centre and the new rail station. 

Plans for the site have been developed by the Council following public engagement and feedback last year and planning approval is in place.   

The first phase of the project will include a link path from the station platform to the high street enhanced by trees, planting, seating and public space also creating an attractive development plot. This means rail passengers will be able to easily connect with the town centre and the investments at Portland Park including the cinema and leisure centre and the wider retail offer in Ashington. 

Further public information is planned for early Autumn to show how the plans have progressed and how the site will developed over the next few years.  

For the second phase of site development, the council has been exploring the feasibility of building a new community, culture and youth facility, which required the appointment of a third-party operator.   

A tender opportunity was issued for this but did not result in an operator being contracted to run the planned facility and the proposal is being reviewed in the light of this.   

The council will continue to develop viable plans for the development plot and identify short and longer term potential uses that will activate the site and benefit the town centre. 

The project is subject to the appointment of a contractor and the site will continue to be hoarded off in the meantime to maintain a safe and secure site with pedestrian access to and from the town centre continuing to be via Kenilworth Rd.  

The project is funded by UK Government (MHCLG), the North East Combined Authority and NCC.  

Improvements to the adjacent Memorial Garden are now almost complete in partnership with Ashington Town Council and will be ready by August 2025.  It includes enhanced access to this part of the town centre for remembrance activities as a high quality and distinct landscaped space next to the high street, rail station and the new Wansbeck Square gateway.  

Public realm and connectivity works near Portland Park and Wansbeck Square have been funded by the North East Combined Authority (NECA) and the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund, with NECA as the lead authority. 

There will be further projects to improve highway infrastructure, public realm and connectivity in and around Portland Park, Grand Corner and Wansbeck Square linking to key education and employment sites in the town. This package will also be subject to further engagement and consultation. 

The improvements underway and planned come on the back of continued progress on other major investments in Ashington with over 400,000 passenger journeys to date on the new Northumberland Line and the new Northumberland College Net Zero Campus at Wansbeck Business Park now being constructed and set to open in Autumn 2026.   

Over 20,000 residents and visitors have attended events in the town since December 2024 as part of Animating Ashington too providing a further boost to the town. 

Councillor Richard Wearmouth, Cabinet Member for Business, Growth and Regeneration, said: “Ashington is benefiting from a number of major improvements, from a new rail station and passenger rail line, a new college and the creation of a cinema and retail offer.  

“It’s great to see confidence building in the town and fantastic news that Portland Park cinema and restaurants development is set to get underway later this year. 

“Wansbeck Square area is a key gateway into the town centre now we have the highly successful Northumberland Line in operation from Ashington station.  It’s great to see demolition being completed and I’d like to thank all the local businesses and residents for their support while this work was undertaken.   

Our plans to create a new gateway to the high street from the rail station are well advanced and we are fully committed to delivering them with construction set to begin in the New Year subject to the necessary funder approvals. 

“We will be engaging widely on both short and long term potential uses for the proposed development site this Autumn before any decisions are taken to make sure we get the very best possible offer to boost the town centre activating this key area.” 

Ashington Central County Councillor Caroline Ball added: “It’s great to see that Portland Park is getting underway later this year as well as all the other major work progressing across town.   

“Wansbeck Square Gateway is a critical development for the town centre and on the back of the new station opening the creation of a welcoming link is really crucial for the town with the new College opening next year too.  

“I'm excited to see what uses can be attracted to the development plot as it's in a great location between the town centre and the rail station. I encourage all residents and businesses to get involved in plans as they progress. 

John Johnston, Ashington Town Forum Chair added: “There’s so much going on in Ashington right now it's great to see these latest major milestones being achieved and change happening on the ground.   

“Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to help develop these exciting plans and for local people’s support while the work is happening.”  

More information about the Regenerating Ashington Programme can be found at: nland.uk/arp