New Shields Ferry Landing Set to Bring Passengers onto the Fish Quay

The Shields Ferry has carried people across the mouth of the Tyne between North and South Shields for centuries, and it is now in line for one of the most useful changes in its recent history. Nexus, the public body that runs the ferry, is to build a new landing at the North Shields Fish Quay, bringing passengers ashore right in the heart of the quayside rather than a walk away from it.

At present, passengers arriving on the north bank step off close to the transport interchange but a little removed from the Fish Quay's cluster of restaurants, bars and independent traders. Relocating the landing onto the quay itself would deposit foot passengers directly among those businesses, a small change of geography with a potentially large effect on how many people spend time and money along the waterfront.

Nexus is delivering the scheme with the North East Combined Authority and North Tyneside Council as local partners, and regional funding has already been secured. Design and procurement work is under way, with construction expected to begin during 2026. Alongside the boost to the quayside, the new landing is intended to help secure the long-term future of the ferry service itself.

Best for:

Landing passengers directly on the Fish Quay is expected to lift footfall for the quayside's cafes, restaurants and shops, tying the ferry more closely into the neighbourhood it serves.

The ferry project is one of several changes reshaping North Shields at the moment, from the continuing regeneration of Smith's Dock upriver to the redevelopment of the former Tyne Brand site and public realm improvements around the town's new transport hub. Together they point to a waterfront that is steadily being reconnected to the town behind it.

More detail on the ferry landing and other schemes across the town is set out in this round-up of North Shields development updates.

---

Have a story? Get in touch.