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 ‘We provided multi-disciplinary design, heritage, and planning services in partnership with Northumberland County Council to secure approval for this complex, sensitive scheme in central Alnwick. Collaboration was key at every stage, fostering trust and enabling us to balance conflicting priorities with solutions that respected the town’s character while meeting modern needs.’