Queen Street (Newton Abbot) Enhancement Scheme

During the day, pedestrians will always be able to access Queen Street. Visitors will be able to walk along the road as usual to visit shops and businesses. During brief work phases, we will need to close footways in the evening for safety reasons, but we’ll put up clear signs to help everyone navigate the area.

Queen Street, between The Avenue and Albany Street will stay open for visiting vehicles just like it is now.

During phase 3 (August-September 2024) we’ll be working on the north side of Queen Street between Courtenay Street and Albany Street.

For this, we’ll need the section of Queen Street between Courtenay Street and Albany Street to be closed.

This road closure will start on Monday 12th August 2024 and we’ll set up a well-marked diversion. The map below shows the expected diversion route for both vehicles and buses.

On completion of phase three, the road closure will be replaced by a Pedestrian and Cycle Zone. This zone will cover the western section of Queen Street, between Albany Street and Courtenay Street.

Access to Queen Street between Albany Street and Courtenay Street will be restricted to disabled badge holders, taxis, buses, cycles and loading. Taxis will be able to access this area to stop to pick up or set down passengers. Drivers of vehicles displaying a blue badge will also be able to access this area to stop and pick up or set down a disabled person.

Other visiting traffic accessing Queen Street will be routed north on Albany Street when leaving Queen Street. All other traffic will be encouraged to remain on The Avenue.

During phase three (August-September 2024) , parking along Albany Street and Victoria Place will be suspended for construction and safety reasons.

However, parking is still available on Queen Street between The Avenue and Albany Street.  Plus, the nearby car parks – Cricketfield Road Car Park, Halcyon Road Car Park, and the Sherborne Road Multi-Story Car Park – will remain open as usual. While the works are underway, Teignbridge District Council is offering discounted parking (£1 to park for two hours) on the top two levels of the Sherborne Road Multi-Story Car Park.

During phase three (August – September 2024), deliveries to the rear of local shops and businesses will still be allowed. For shops or businesses without a rear access, a bespoke delivery management plan should be in place to help us accommodate your deliveries during the road closure.

If you have any questions about access throughout the construction period, you can contact us via the project mailbox: queenstreetnewtonabbot@devon.gov.uk.

During the Queen Street road closure (from 12 August 2024), Stagecoach bus routes 75, 77, 77A and Country Bus route 174 will run on a diversion route along The Avenue and the B3195 (Kingsteignton Road).

Queen Street will remain accessible on foot from The Avenue bus stop. Plus, the bus stop opposite Newton Abbot Rail Station or the bus stops in Sherbourne Road, are within a 10 minute walk of Queen Street. After the phase three works have been completed, the bus routes listed above will use the same route along the full length of Queen Street as they do now.

More information on local bus services, including bus service updates, can be found on the operator’s websites:

Stagecoach: www.stagecoachbus.com

Country Bus: https://countrybusdevon.co.uk

In 2019, Teignbridge District Council bid for a share of £1 billion Future High Street Fund which was set up to help reshape town centres through transformational schemes.

In 2020, Teignbridge District Council hosted a consultation to engage with the public on potential plans for Queen Street. You can read a summary of the findings of this consultation here.

In 2021, Teignbridge District Council were successfully awarded a portion of the Future High Streets Fund, however due to the fund being oversubscribed, it was necessary to scale the proposals back. The additional parking proposed for the Cricketfield car park was removed from the proposals as it was not deemed good value for money.

In December 2021 and January 2022 consultation was undertaken with local stakeholders, including the Town Council, local Devon County Council Members, transport operators and other representatives.

In March 2022 the Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) gave approval for a public consultation on the detailed elements of the Queen Street Enhancement scheme to go ahead. You can see the minutes from this HATOC meeting here.

Between April and June 2022 Devon County Council and Teignbridge District Council hosted a public consultation. You can read the summary report for the consultation here.

In July 2022 officers presented the outcomes of the consultation to the Teignbridge HATOC, the Committee noted the feedback and supported the scheme overall. The Committee also gave approval for the relevant Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to be advertised for consultation. TROs are legal agreements which allow us or the police to enforce regulations including speed limits, on-street parking and one-way streets. You can see the minutes from this HATOC meeting here.

In October and November 2022 a statutory TRO consultation was held. You can view the advertised Traffic Regulation Orders for this scheme here.

In May 2023 Devon County Council successfully secured additional funding from the Government’s Active Travel Fund programme for the scheme.

In June 2023 the Teignbridge HATOC approved the making and sealing of the Traffic Regulation Orders. You can see the minutes from this HATOC meeting here.

In July 2023, the Devon County Council Cabinet gave approval for the construction of the Queen Street Enhancement scheme. You can see the minutes from this Cabinet meeting here.

In December 2023 an information leaflet about the scheme was delivered to local businesses and residents. You can view the leaflet here.

In February 2024, the Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) gave approval to relax the Traffic Regulation Orders to remove the proposed length prohibition and facilitate access of vehicles over 10m or 32’6” to Queen Street. This recommendation was made by Officers, following further representations made by local businesses and through discussion with the Local Member, as to the need to maintain access for articulated vehicles as part of the scheme details. You can see the minutes from this HATOC meeting here (Agenda for Teignbridge Highways and Traffic Orders Committee on Friday, 16th February, 2024, 10.30 am – Democracy in Devon). Subsequent to this approval, the proposed flexible loading bay, immediately west of King Street, will be extended so that it can better accommodate articulated vehicles. This minor amendment to the scheme design, was agreed through delegated powers given by Cabinet, in consultation with the Local Member and the Cabinet Member for Highway Management. Details of this decision can be found here (Minor design amendment to the Queen Street, Newton Abbot Pedestrian Enhancement scheme – Democracy in Devon). These changes to the scheme are now included in the latest scheme plans which can be viewed below.

In March 2024, a construction contract to deliver the scheme was awarded.

In May 2024, construction started for the Queen Street Enhancement Scheme. Works began on the southern footway on the western end of Queen Street.

In June 2024, works commenced to widen a short section of the southern footway along Queen Street at a further two locations. The first location was outside of Coast and Country Estate Agents and around the corner onto Devon Square (originally part of phase five). The second location was from St Joseph’s Catholic Church and around the corner onto St Paul’s Road (originally part of phase six).

Other works proposed in phases five and six, for example the zebra crossing, are still expected to take place during November 2024.

In August 2024 construction started on phase three of the Queen Street Enhancement Scheme.

In preparation for the tart of the new school year in September, works to widen a short section of the northern footway between Lemon Road and Bearnes Voluntary Primary School also started ahead of schedule. These works were originally planned for phase four. However, due to the summer holidays, this was pulled forward to progress the works ahead of pupils and staff returning to school.

Widened footways will give pedestrians more space to move and access shops/services, also improving access for those using wheelchairs, mobility scooters, buggies etc.

The focus of widening is at the western end of Queen Street, between Courtenay Street and Albany Street. The southern footways will also be widened between Albany Street and the existing zebra crossing.

Crossings at side roads will make junctions safer and easier to cross, with priority given to pedestrians instead of vehicles. Pedestrian priority raised tables will be provided at every side road between Devon Square and Hopkins Lane, excluding Lemon Road, meaning crossings will be level with footways.

A narrower carriageway, partnered with a reduced speed limit, will make Queen Street itself easier to cross. A new zebra crossing west of the War Memorial will also provide a new formal crossing opportunity.

Enhanced greening and seating is central to making Queen Street a more appealing destination. New in-ground tree planting is proposed on the northern footway between Courtenay Street and Albany Street and at The Avenue. This will be complemented by new doubled-headed flower poles on the southern footway, alongside benches and planters between Fairfield and Prospect Terrace. To ensure high quality and deliverable provision, a specialist landscape architect team was engaged and proposals have been developed alongside Newton Abbot Town Council officers.

The existing bus stop outside the Catholic Church will be enhanced to create a bus lay-by. A reduction in general traffic will make access by cycle more attractive. Whilst cycle trips will remain westbound only from The Avenue, north/south movements will be enhanced through the removal of traffic to/from King Street. New cycle parking is also proposed.

Proposals will complement separate Future High Street Fund proposals, to improve the National Cycle Network Route 2 which runs parallel to Queen Street. Working as a wider package, enhancements to public transport and cycling provision will help strengthen active travel and bus connectivity with Newton Abbot’s town centre and support decarbonisation objectives.

A new 20mph speed limit between The Avenue and Courtenay Street on Queen Street and along a short section of Albany Street. This will further enhance the environment for visitors and safety for pupils and staff at Bearnes Voluntary Primary School.

The introduction of the prohibition of motor vehicles on lengths of Devon Square, King Street, Oak Place and Queen Street; one way and width restriction on a length of Hopkins Lane; length restriction on lengths of Devon Square and King Street.

Removal of general traffic from Queen Street is central to achieving a transformational, attractive pedestrian environment, with reduced carbon emissions and better air quality. In particular, access on Queen Street, west of Albany Street, will be restricted to buses, cycles and loading. Taxis will be able to access this area to stop to pick up or set down passengers.

Drivers of vehicles displaying a blue badge will also be able to access to stop and pick up or set down a disabled person. Through traffic will be encouraged to remain on The Avenue and general traffic accessing Queen Street will then be routed north on Albany Street when leaving Queen Street.

The amendment of waiting, parking and loading restrictions. Approximately 55% of on-street parking is proposed to be removed within the scheme area, including the removal of all on-street parking between Courtenay Street and Albany Street.

On-street disabled parking-only provision will increase overall within the scheme area.

The number of loading-only bays will be increased in the scheme area and will include two flexible loading bays on Queen Street, west of King Street. The flexible loading bays will feature a herringbone pattern, creating a designated space for delivery vehicle drivers to park and efficiently load or unload goods. They will also be level with the footway, allowing the flexible loading bays to be used by pedestrians when not in use for loading.