Yarm High Street
The Council proposed to create a series of improvements to the public spaces on Yarm High Street, as well as enhancing links to the River Tees and upgrading Snaith's Field playground.
The proposed work would deliver improvements to six areas on Yarm High Street, creating spaces for residents and visitors to sit and enjoy their surroundings.
This work includes:
- high-quality spaces that separate pedestrian areas and large sections of car parking
- new paving
- planted seating areas
- interactive play items
- improving accessibility to public transport
- new cycle parking
The improvements are funded as part of the £20million Levelling Up Fund, secured from UK Government for Yarm and Eaglescliffe in 2021.
Public engagement - you decide
The Council invited local people to share their views on whether to progress with these proposed improvements.
Intervention area 1 - Northern Gateway (Yarm Bridge end)
Work at the northern end of the High Street acts as a gateway, creating a sense of arrival. The work will improve the setting of the historic welcome sign and new paving, seating and planters will be installed to complement the attractive, new space.
The new plinth will be relocated to improve the setting of the historic 'welcome' sign.
There will be new seating on the east side as part of a new planter behind the 'welcome' sign. The planters will be installed at a later date in line with the planting season.
There will be a range of new planting to the east and west sides of the High Street, including new trees and shrubbery.
The materials will include porphyry sett paving to complement the High Street's character.
Benefits
- improved look and feel to the gateway entrance, creating a better sense of arrival
- a new seating area will provide a place for residents and visitors to sit and enjoy the High Street
- new planting will provide additional greenery
- new trees will contribute to an enhanced environment
- new paving materials are sympathetic to the High Street
Programme of works
- work will begin on Monday 20 October 2025
- the work will last for approximately four weeks
- no parking bays will be removed
- temporary car park suspension during the works on the east side for one car parking bay
- access to Ridley Apartments car park will be maintained
loading outside Yarm DIY will be restricted
Intervention area 2 - Northern bus stop (outside Bang and Olufsen)
A new seating area will be created to improve the area for those using public transport. This will include planters and an integrated bench. Raised kerbs will be installed to improve accessbility.
New seating, planting and shubbery will be integrated as part of a new planter next to the bus stop. The planters will be installed at a later date in line with the planting season.
Upgraded materials will include porphyry sett and sandstone paving to complement the High Street's character.
Benefits
- new paving materials are sympathetic to the High Street to improve the look and feel of the area
- a new seating area will provide an area for people to sit and rest whilst using public transport
- new planting will provide additional greenery to complement the new space
- raised kerbs and tactile paving will improve accessibility when using public transport
Progamme of works
- work will begin on Monday 20 October 2025
- the work will last for approximately three weeks
- bus stop suspension will be in place
- access to Low Church Wynd will be restricted during the work
- no parking bays will be removed
no temporary car park suspension during the work
Intervention area 2b - Southern bus stop (outside Ketton Ox)
A new area will be created featuring planters, new paving and integrated seating, which will improve the area around the bus stop and improve access to public transport.
Two poor quality trees will be removed in this area. One tree will be replaced and additional trees are being planted along the High Street.
New seating, planting and shubbery will be integrated as part of a new planter next to the bus stop. The planters will be installed at a later date in line with the planting season.
Upgraded materials will include porphyry sett and sandstone paving to complement the High Street's character.
Benefits
- high-quality seating area will provide an area for residents and visitors to sit and enjoy the High Street surroundings
- new paving materials are sympathetic to the High Street to improve the look and feel of the area and provide a safer route to public transport from the footpath
- raised kerbs will improve accessibility to public transport
- new shrubbery and planting will provide additional greenery to complement the new space
- removal of benches and replacement of the existing bin
Programme of works
- work will begin on Wednesday 5 November 2025
- the work will last approximately four weeks
- one parking bay will be removed in this area
- temporary car park suspension, using eight car parking bays, during the work
- a bus stop suspension will be in place
access to Poplar Court will be restricted during part of the work
Intervention area 3 - Silver Street crossing (Sainsbury's)
The crossing at Sainsbury's will be improved with upgraded paving, raised planters, new bollards and seating to create a more pleasant environment.
The new paving will include artwork to reflect historical points of interest and will extend to Silver Street to improve connections to the river.
New cycle parking will be provided on the west side of the High Street next to the crossing.
The crossing will be improved with upgraded materials including porphyry sett and sandstone paving to complement the existing High Street character.
New planters installed at a later date in line with the planting season.
Benefits
- raised planters, hedge planting, new bollards and integrated seating will separate pedestrian area and car parking to create a more pleasant environment
- new paving materials sympathetic to the High Street will improve the look and feel of the area and tactile paving will improve access to the pedestrian crossing
- decluttering of the footpath through the relocation of the signage, cycle parking and replacement of the existing bins will enhance the High Street experience
Programme of works
- work will begin in January 2026
- the work will last approximately five weeks
- no parking bays will be removed in this area
- temporary car park suspension during the work for 14 car parking bays, including one accessible bay
- access to the pedestrian crossing will be suspended during the work and a temporary crossing area will be in place
Silver Street will remain open but access will be impacted at times
Intervention area 4 - Yarm Town Hall crossing point
A new area opposite Yarm Town Hall, next to the bus stop, will be created containing new planters, paving and integrated seating. This will complement the recent resoration work to the Town Hall.
Existing car parking bays will be realigned to allow better connection between the Town Hall on the east side to the bus stop on the west side of the High Street.
Upgraded materials will include porphyry sett and sandstone paving to complement the High Street's character.
New seating, planting and shrubbery will be provided next to the bus stop, creating an area for people to sit and rest when using public transport. The planters will be installed at a later date in line with the planting season.
Benefits
- new planting will provide additional greenery to complement the attractive, new space
- new paving materials that are sympathetic to the High Street will improve the look and feel of the area and create a better connected route between the bus stop and the Town Hall crossing point
- new paving materials will improve access to public transport and the pedestrian crossing
- decluttering of the area through the relocation of existing signage and replacement of existing bins will enhance the High Street experience
Programme of works
- work will begin in February 2026
- the work will last for approximately six weeks
- no parking bays will be removed in this area
- existing parking bays will be realigned
- temporary car park suspension of 12 car parking bays during the works
- access to the pedestrian crossing will be maintained
access to High Church Wynd will be restricted for part of the works
Intervention area 5 - Central Area (The Black Bull to Osbourne's pub)
Improvements to the Central Area will include widening the existing footpath to create an impressive new public space that will improve the look and feel of the area. It will also create a more co-ordinated and accessible route along the High Street.
New seating, plating and references to points of historical interest will further enhance the function and visitor experience. New, raised planters will provide greater separation between parked vehicles and pedestrians.
The widening of the footpath will improve pedestrian movement along the High Street and provide a safer route to public transport from the footpath.
'Play on the way' interative features are included for children and pavement artwork will incorporate points of historical interest.
A series of new seating areas will be created next to the bus stop and footpath.
Raised planters will provide new trees and shrubbery. The planters will be installed at a later date in line with the planting season.
Upgraded materials will include porphyry sett and sandstone paving to complement the High Street's character.
Benefits
- a new seating area will provide an area for people to sit and enjoy the High Street surroundings
- new planting will provide additional greenery to complement the attractive, new space
- new paving materials that are sympathetic to the High Street will improve the look and feel of the area
- raised planters will provide greater separation between parked vehicles and pedestrians to improve visitor experience
- new interactive play items for children, allowing more families to experience the new features
- declutteirng of the area through the relocation of signage, removal of benches and replacement of bins will enhance the High Street experience
Programme of work
- work will begin in April 2026
- the work will last approximately seven weeks
- eight car parking bays will be removed in this area
- temporary car park suspension of around 30 car parking bays, including three accessible bays
- permanent relocation of one accessible parking bay within the intervention area
- access to Mill Wynd will be restricted during some of the work
Intervention area 6 - Southern Gateway
Work at the southern end of the High Street acts as a gateway, creating a sense of arrival. This will include an entrance point, marking the arrival to the High Street as well as new paving, seating, planters and cycle parking to complement this new space.
A new sign will welcome residents and visitors to Yarm High Street.
New cycle parking will be included and decorative bollards will separate pedestrian areas from High Street traffic.
New low-level planting and shrubbery will be planted to the east and west side of the High Street.
New planter and integrated seating will be provided on the west side of the High Street. Planters will be installed at a later date, in line with the planting season.
The materials will include porphyry sett paving to complement the High Street's character.
Benefits
- new seating will provide an area for people to sit and enjoy the gateway into the High Street
- new planting and lanscaped areas will provide more greenery to complement the new space
- additional cycle parking will promote active travel
- the removal of the existing bench, planters and replacement of the existing bin will declutter the area
Programme of work
- work will begin in May 2026
- the work will last for approximately nine weeks
- no parking bays will be removed in this area
- there will be a temporary car park suspension for four car parking bays
- footpath diversions will be in place
- access to the maintenance entrance for Yarm School and St Mary and St Romuald Church will be maintained
- Bentley Wynd will remian open during the works and disruption kept to a minimum
Previous public consultation
First phase of consultation - August 2022
The Council asked the public to share their views on proposed improvements to Yarm High Street. In the results, the improvements people wanted to see were:
- improving footpaths
- reducing street clutter
- adding more planting
- improving connections and accessibility to the River Tees
- providing more resting and seating spaces
Second phase of consultation - December 2022
Findings from the first consultation were used to shape and develop a package of concept designs for Yarm High Street and were presented for a second consultation in December 2022.
Design options ranged from a minimum level of planned improvement through to options, which explored additional areas of public realm improvement, but would result in the loss of some parking spaces along the High Street.
The removal of parking bays was an important factor and the results from the consultation showed that on average 53 per cent of respondents would be accepting of the loss of some parking spaces, depending on the location and what the space would be used for.
Overall, there was positive support towards the proposals and respondents thought the designs achieved the consultation priorities and were of the right mix, type and location.
View the results of the first and second phase of consultation
