Tauranga City Council is seeking community feedback on a new look for the new Durham Street.

People will be able to give their thoughts in a public forum on May 4.

Durham Street is about to become busier and more built-up, with the University of Waikato development on the carpark opposite the new Trustpopwer building, plus an eleven storey student accommodation building on the Smiths' motorcycle shop site.

'More people will be using Durham Street and Durham Lane,” says Heart of the City Programme Director Adele Hadfield.

'As such, we wish to transform Durham Street into a more pedestrian friendly street, with pedestrian-friendly connections to surrounding city centre streets and nearby public spaces. We also hope to better connect Durham Lane from the new university campus to the Toi Ohomai campus on Cameron Road.”

Durham Street, Durham Lane, Elizabeth Street east, the southern Strand Extension, Wharf Street east, Aspen Reserve and Masonic Park are key city centre streets and open spaces in the heart of the city that will be revitalised during the next three years.

The city council wants community feedback on Durham Street and Durham Lane's future look as part of its investment to revitalise the city centre streetscape, open spaces and waterfront.

The community is invited to share its thoughts and a coffee and cake, with city councillors and staff on Thursday, May 4, between 11.30am to 1.30pm, outside Trustpower on Durham Street.

People can also email their feedback in to the council. Community feedback will help Council to develop a design brief for this priority area.

The way residents use the city centre spaces and places is changing says city transformation general manager Jaine Lovell-Gadd.

'The revitalisation of these streets and open spaces will follow the principles of the City Centre Spatial Framework that is being developed, with the final design reflecting each street's own unique story and purpose.”

Tauranga City Council chose to invest in the city streetscape for a number of reasons, says city transformation committee chair Larry Baldock.

'We prioritised these areas because of the recent and planned private and public sector development on them and their ability to attract investment in the city centre and encourage more visitors and locals to the city centre.

'Revitalising these streets will improve safety and offer a much better experience for pedestrians and road users.”