Bondgate ‘The Cobbles’ Public Realm Improvements

In partnership with Northumberland County Council, our highways, civils and planning teams delivered sensitive upgrades to ‘The Cobbles’ car park in Alnwick’s Conservation Area, demonstrating how thoughtful planning, sensitive engineering and multidisciplinary collaboration can deliver meaningful change.  Upgrading historic public spaces in conservation areas presents a unique challenge, particularly when those spaces include listed features, traditional materials, and serve as busy and valued community assets.  

The scheme for this project balanced heritage preservation with modern improvements, including drainage, SUDS, landscaping, and accessibility enhancements. Historic cobbles were carefully restored, listed features repaired, and new materials integrated to complement the setting. Planning and heritage expertise guided every decision, ensuring durability, safety, and long-term value without compromising character.

Michael Florance, Civils Associate Director, commented ‘Working on unique projects, such as 'The Cobbles' gives us, as engineers, a fantastic opportunity to preserve our history with innovative engineering design solutions. Collaboration was key at every stage. Our multi-disciplinary offering enabled us to work diligently with Northumberland County Council to foster trust and enabled us to balance conflicting priorities with solutions that respected the town’s character while meeting modern needs.’