Chancellor visits Tyne Bridge in Newcastle as restoration work nears halfway mark

The Chancellor visited Newcastle to visit the Tyne Bridge as much-needed restoration work on the iconic landmark nears the halfway mark.

Rachel Reeves also met with another North East icon, Sir Brendan Foster, to discuss the Great North Run.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves meets local leaders and workers from Esh Construction on the Tyne Bridge. Photo: Labour Party.

placeholder image — Chancellor Rachel Reeves meets local leaders and workers from Esh Construction on the Tyne Bridge. Photo: Labour Party.

The Chancellor’s visit on Friday came ahead of local elections across parts of the North East next week, with Labour predicted to take heavy losses in the region.

Work to restore the Tyne Bridge has already been ongoing for more than two years, and is not expected to be completed until 2028, marking the centenary of the opening of the bridge.

The restoration and upgrades, which includes sections of the Central Motorway, will cost more than £40 million, with the cash provided by the Government and North East Labour Mayor Kim McGuinness.

The final £6 million needed to get the work over the line was secured last year, as part of what Ms Reeves called the “biggest ever investment” in the north’s transport infrastructure. The Government say it is now supporting the North East through the Pride in Place funding programme.

Areas such as Walker, Wrekenton and Blyth are set to benefit from up to £20 million over the next decade, with the cash available to spend on the priorities of local people.

The chancellor said: “Labour is putting pride back into our communities in the North East, and I am proud this government has confirmed funding to restore the iconic Tyne Bridge.

“We are also investing in neighbourhoods across Newcastle and Gateshead through our Pride in Place programme – giving local people the power to decide how money should be spent. I will continue to work with our brilliant Labour Mayor, MPs and councillors to drive growth and jobs here in Tyneside.”

The Chancellor also met with Great North Run founder Sir Brendan Foster and the team behind the event. They discussed the “social, cultural and economic benefits” that the iconic run brings to the North East.

Sir Brendan said: “It was great to meet Rachel Reeves, we had a very interesting conversation and I’m absolutely delighted that she and the Labour Party are committed to more devolution, particularly in the North East.

“The North East of England can be a difficult place to do business, so devolving fiscal responsibility would be a real addition. I was really pleased to meet her, really happy with the way she’s talking about regionalisation, and her responses to our questions were really positive.”