Neglected subways beneath Newcastle city centre roundabout set for upgrades

Newcastle City Council is planning improvements to the underpasses beneath the Swan House Roundabout in the city centre, which it says are 'dated and neglected'

18:58, 16 Jun 2025

Grotty subways beneath a major Newcastle city centre roundabout are in line for new investment to make them feel less intimidating. Newcastle City Council[1] is set to fund work to improve the state of the underpasses around Swan House roundabout in the city centre.

Civic centre officials are setting aside almost GBP64,000 to pay for upgrades intended to make the subways feel safer, following the recent installation of brand new lighting. The plans could include things such as CCTV cameras, painting, new signage, and a general clean-up of the area.

A council report said that the "dated and neglected" subways connecting to the major redevelopment area on East Pilgrim Street and the east side of the A167 central motorway were the subject of persistent safety concerns that were causing problems for local residents and businesses. A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council[2] confirmed: "We will be looking to make improvements to the subways beneath Swan House roundabout and their approaches to improve access and make the area feel safer and more pleasant.

"Recent upgrades to the subway lighting are already making a difference, but we know from feedback, including from people within business premises accessed via the subways, that further improvements are needed.

This work will link in with the wider regeneration of this part of the city centre, which is seeing a huge amount of investment, redevelopment and public realm improvements.

Once funding is confirmed we will finalise plans for bringing the Swan House area up to a higher standard to create a more pleasant and appealing pedestrian route."

The GBP63,793 upgrades to the subways will be paid for through the council's Accelerated Development Zone funding, with an equal amount also due to be spent from section 106 funds on improvements to the pedestrian link across the Central Motorway.

A council report states: "Despite significant improvements and regeneration to the East Pilgrim Street area, there has been a lack of investment to improve the dated and neglected subways that connect the southern section of the East Pilgrim Street area with the Swan House roundabout (upon which are residential and commercial premises) and the subway access to the east side of the A167 central motorway.

"Residents and local businesses as users of the subway connections have reported an issue with safety perception of those connections, with local businesses experiencing a decline in the uptake of rental premises as a result of the unattractiveness of the surrounding connections."

References

1. ^ Newcastle City Council (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)
2. ^ Newcastle City Council (www.chroniclelive.co.uk)