New £2.5 million walking and cycling route for Durham City

A key travel route linking educational, retail and residential sites in the north of Durham City is set to benefit from enhanced walking and cycling facilities thanks to a £2.5 million grant.

Durham County Council has secured funding from Active Travel England to deliver improvements along a 2.5km route between the Arnison Centre and New College Durham.

The scheme will replace temporary measures installed in 2020, which included the introduction of cycle-lanes marked by traffic “wands”. Feedback from the public has confirmed these measures have provided much-needed, protected space for cyclists, while the lower traffic speeds have also improved conditions for pedestrians.

Under the new scheme, permanent infrastructure will be introduced to create a direct and connected route for cyclists and pedestrians known as the North Durham Active Travel Corridor. It will feature enhanced junctions and crossings to help ensure people feel safe when travelling on foot or by bike, and to allow them to travel more directly.

The corridor will also connect to other cycling routes linking Durham City to the wider region, including the Great North Cycleway along the A167.

Coun Elizabeth Scott, Durham County Council’s Cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: “This funding will support our plans to deliver permanent cycling and pedestrian improvements on a key route for people who live, work, visit and study in Durham City.

“Cycling and walking are fantastic leisure activities as well as great ways to stay fit and healthy, however they also offer an environmentally friendly and affordable way to travel from A to B, especially for shorter journeys. Whether that be the school run, college commute or a trip to the shops, leisure centre or library, the North Durham Active Travel Corridor will make it easier and safer for people to travel on foot or bicycle.”

The improvements are complemented by the council’s Borrow a Bike scheme, which offers free bike hire to help people get to work, save money and stay healthy. The scheme operates from Abbey Leisure Centre, opposite the Arnison Centre and close to residential areas such as Newton Hall, Framwellgate Moor and Pity Me, making it ideally situated for the new route.

A public consultation is planned for later in the year, with a view to the scheme being completed by March 2026. To find out more about Borrow a Bike, visit www.durham.gov.uk/borrowabike.

For more information about cycling in County Durham, including where to cycle, local groups and safety and maintenance tips, visit: www.durham.gov.uk/cycling.

And for extra cycling motivation, visit www.lovetoride.net/durham to log rides and take part in the Bike Month campaign in May.