Research carried out by Pipeline Drainage Solutions, Newcastle
Let’s get real for a moment—flooding in Newcastle isn’t just something that “might” happen. It does happen, and more often than you’d think.
If you’ve ever driven through the Central Motorway underpass after a cloudburst or seen the Ouseburn Valley turn into a mini river, you know what I’m talking about.
We at Pipeline Drainage Solutions recently rolled up our sleeves and dug into the latest data, local history, and a few soggy memories to create a map of Newcastle’s most flood-prone streets in 2025.
And we didn’t just rely on government stats (though we looked at those too)—we spoke to locals, scanned news reports, and leaned on years of hands-on drainage experience.
We’ve literally been there, boots soaked, clearing backed-up drains while the rain keeps falling.
Here’s what we found—and if you live, work, or run a business in any of these areas, you’ll want to read on.
1. The Quayside
The Quayside is iconic—beautiful, busy, full of life. And unfortunately, it’s also one of the first places to take a hit when the Tyne decides to swell.
With the river right there, it’s no surprise this area floods during extreme tides and heavy rain. We’ve inspected drains here after high-tide warnings, and yeah, the temporary flood barriers? Not optional. In April 2024, the water came close. Too close.
Flood type: River (fluvial)
Hotspots: Near the Millennium Bridge, Law Courts, and riverside bars
2. Ouseburn Valley
This one’s personal. I remember being in Jesmond Dene during that 2012 storm—Thunder Thursday. The peaceful stream turned into something out of a disaster film.
Bridges were wrecked, paths vanished under water. These days, Heaton and Byker still deal with overflows, partly because so much of the Ouseburn is shoved underground in culverts. We’ve cleared out drains here countless times after storms.
Flood type: Surface water and culvert overflow
Watch these streets: Warwick Street, Foundry Lane, Red Walk, Stepney Road
3. Brunton Park (North Gosforth)
Brunton Park used to be a regular on the flood list. I’ve walked through back gardens here that turned into swamps after a single day of rain.
That said, credit where it’s due—the river was redirected, and storage basins were added. It’s a lot better now, but if you’re near Waterbury Road or Mitford Gardens, don’t relax too much.
Flood type: River and surface runoff
4. Newburn & Scotswood
If you’ve been in Newcastle a while, you probably remember 2012 in Newburn. Spencer Court literally collapsed. I was out that way the day after—complete mess.
Culverts failed, roads crumbled, homes evacuated. Even now, Scotswood Road floods during heavy rain, and we’ve had to clear out blocked gullies more than once. Not an area to ignore.
Flood type: Culvert collapse and river flooding
Risky spots: Millfield Lane, Newburn Bridge area, Scotswood Road
5. Walkergate & Walker
Walkergate Metro turning into a lake? Seen it. We’ve been called out to jet drains around Benfield Road, and it’s not pretty when the system gets overwhelmed. Same story in lower Walker—older sewers, lots of flat ground, water just doesn’t shift fast enough.
Flood type: Surface water and sewer overload
Hit zones: Church Street, Welbeck Road, Benfield Road
6. Fenham & Wingrove
You’d think being on a hill helps. And in some ways, sure. But Fenham’s playing fields act like a giant bowl during storms.
When they fill up, guess where the water goes? Right into the streets around them. I’ve seen Queensway look more like a stream than a road. Drainage upgrades have helped, but when it rains hard and fast, the place still struggles.
Flood type: Surface water
Vulnerable streets: Nuns Moor Road, Queensway, Fenham Hall Drive
7. Newcastle City Centre
Let’s not sugar-coat this, the city centre just doesn’t cope well with flash floods. The Central Motorway underpass? Floods like clockwork during heavy rain.
We’ve had teams on Westmorland Road pulling up covers and pumping out water more times than I’d like to count. It’s an old system dealing with modern weather. Not ideal.
Flood type: Surface water and drainage overflow
Worst offenders: Central Motorway underpass, Westmorland Road, Dean Street
8. Kingston Park
You wouldn’t think Kingston Park would be a problem, right? But all that tarmac from retail parks and driveways makes runoff a real issue. We’ve been up there during storms and watched the drains struggle to cope. The good news? There’s investment coming—new schemes are on the way. But until then, it’s a ticking clock every time it pours.
Flood type: Surface water
Flash-flood zones: Brunton Lane, Kingston Park Road
So, What Now?
Flooding isn’t just a one-off event anymore—it’s becoming part of life. Newcastle’s working on it. More than 20 flood schemes are planned, including new drainage systems and barriers. But they won’t fix everything overnight.
If you live near any of these areas:
- Make sure your drains and gutters are clear
- Consider flood barriers or sandbags
- Sign up for Environment Agency flood alerts
- Know how to shut off your water and power quickly
This guide isn’t just us ticking boxes. We’ve been out there—boots on, drains blocked, water rising. We’ve seen the mess first-hand, and we want to help others avoid it.
