Council provides updates on Borderlands projects in Northumberland including potential new schemes in Alnwick and Rothbury
A range of projects in Alnwick and Rothbury town centres are set to see major progress over the coming year thanks to Borderlands funding.
Up to £3m investment in each town is being funded as part of the Borderlands Place Programme with support from Northumberland County Council.
In Alnwick, improvements to safety and accessibility around the bus station are due to begin this summer, with council-funded bus station improvement works earmarked for early 2027.
Work on the £5.7m lottery-backed transformation of the Northumberland Hall into a new museum and visitor experience is scheduled to follow in the autumn, with completion in early 2028.
A public realm, connectivity and wayfinding study is also underway with town centre improvements in mind.
A report to the council’s cabinet also details the potential development of a new Skills and Innovation Hub to include a mixture of business space, skills provision and innovation activity.
Northumberland County Council have funded initial feasibility work and the project sponsor is undertaking further development of the concept. A new Development Trust has now been created – Alnwick Community Enterprise (ACE) – which could potentially be a vehicle for this project and other initiatives in the town.
In Rothbury, a range of town centre improvements are focused on improving public realm, visitor infrastructure and connectivity. This includes new parking improvements at Foggon’s Yard which could get underway in winter 2026 subject to local engagement and consultation.
A project is also being scoped out to deliver improved 5G connectivity to the town, while the concept of a new shared business space in a town centre location is being explored.
Projects in Prudhoe, Bedlington, Newbiggin, Bellingham and Haltwhistle are also being progressed alongside the redevelopment of Berwick’s Maltings theatre.
A new 2km segregated cycleway is also planned at Hadrian’s Wall alongside the Military Road, completing a link between key Roman sites and the visitor hub.
Council leader Glen Sanderson, said: “We’re continuing to progress and accelerate the delivery of a huge range of improvements to towns across our county.
“Borderlands is a great example of cross-border, cross-county and cross-party working. While projects of this scale do take time, the results are always worthwhile.
“These are exciting times as more schemes are taken forward and delivered.”