As part of our ambitious plans to improve North Shields and transform the town into a residential location of choice and an attractive, family-friendly destination we have created a new Transport Hub and adjoining town square.
Transport Hub
The new Transport Hub for North Shields opened on 2 September 2023, bringing buses, the Metro, taxis and cycling infrastructure together in the same place.
The £12.994 million Transport Hub and Town Square is funded through the Transforming Cities Fund via Transport North East, the North of Tyne Combined Authority, and North Tyneside Council.
The Hub is a major part of North Tyneside Council’s ambitious plan to improve North Shields, transforming the town into an attractive, family-friendly destination, with a vibrant, high-quality town centre.
There are modern facilities including Changing Places toilets, which provide extra equipment and space for people with a disability to allow them to use the toilets safely and comfortably.
There are real-time information displays for all local bus, Metro and ferry services.
Safety and security feature predominantly in the designs with a high-quality, open and expansive waiting area.
The building is North Tyneside Council’s first to be fully carbon-neutral in its construction and its operation, as part of the council’s wider aim to be carbon net-zero by 2030.
It has sustainability at the forefront of its design through the use of materials, solar energy and the way surface water quality is managed.
Public artwork has been installed in the Hub, designed by local artist, Colin Davies and young people from the area. It honours North Shields’ past, present and future, and some of the designs were chosen by hundreds of North Tyneside residents in a public vote. These include a 24-metre artwork on the Transport Hub wall, illustrating stories from local people in morse code and maritime weather maps.
Bus services running from North Shields Transport Hub.
Thomas Brown Square
The development also includes a new open town square for events and leisure activities. It has new seating, trees and planting.
It is a much-needed green space in the heart of the town centre and helps increase biodiversity in an urban environment.
It has been named in honour of WWII hero Thomas Brown, the George Medal recipient who retrieved the Enigma codes at sea.
A stone memorial to Thomas, commissioned by his family, has been installed in the square.
