Almost 17,000 government employees who are relocating to Newcastle City Centre have been asked for their views on their travel plans.
The move from Department of Work and Pensions offices in Longbenton and HM Revenue and Customs’ offices at Longbenton and Washington to their new city centre locations at Pilgrim Place and Pilgrim’s Quarter will take place in 2027.
Nexus hosted a Travel Intention Survey in September to understand how this move will change travel requirements across the region, working with HM Government colleagues, transport providers and Eldon Square. Bus operators Go North East, Arriva and Stagecoach, Northern Rail and Metro operator Nexus will use the intelligence gathered to plan suitable services and surrounding support.
Alex Finkel, Research and Insight Manager at Nexus, said: "The effects of the relocation of so many employees cannot be overstated and it's essential that transport providers have the best evidence to ensure services can meet these changing needs.
"My thanks go to the bus operators and Northern Rail for helping develop the survey and to Eldon Square for donating a prize draw incentive. Together we've captured the views of 7,500 people which gives us great insight into how transport services and retail demand will be changed. Results are being compiled now and will be published later this autumn."
Matt Godwin, Head of Corporate Planning at Nexus, said: “This partnership approach is a great example of how our Research and Insights team can deliver specialist support — from survey design and stakeholder engagement to data analysis and interpretation.
"Working in close partnership with all stakeholders, we’ve ensured the approach is robust, inclusive, and aligned with wider regeneration goals for the region. We’re proud of the collaborative model developed here and look forward to supporting other organisations in the future.”
In addition to the survey, Nexus teams regularly visit both sites to talk to employees face to face about the best ticketing and travel options for them.