Nicholas Craig column

Jan 21 2005 By Nicholas Craig, The Journal

Go west! We did, moving to the West End of Newcastle, alongside many new offices, a new hotel, science centre and huge visitor attraction.

Now £750m is to be invested in the Discovery Quarter, the biggest inner-city regeneration project in the UK, right on our doorstep.

In 15 years' time there will be 2,500 new homes, a new commercial and retail quarter, and improved transport links between the West End and the city centre. It's an exciting, timely announcement.

From our windows we can see change transforming the views. This includes Newcastle College's stunning performance academy, Dance City's smart centre, Discovery museum's £8m extension, St James' Boulevard, with its major office blocks and the landmark St James's Park dominating the skyline.

So much has happened in the west of the city centre since Watson Burton arrived here last summer. Cranes bob constantly on the horizon, bringing new life and work out of the ground for Newcastle.

The proposed £750m development unveiled by the city council this week will be funded mainly by the private sector. The aim is to expand tourism, encourage science and knowledge-based schemes and encourage a Continental-style cafe culture.

Newcastle's compact nature means the focus for development and interest has moved over the years. We have seen the extraordinary change at the West and East Quaysides, from semi-derelict land to spectacular business park and offices a decade ago.

They were followed by schemes around Central Station, with new and refurbished space pushing office rents to record highs. In the heart of the city, the Grainger Town partnership breathed life into faded streets and developers have nurtured the grandeur of Grey Street while building behind Georgian facades.

The west of the city is now the hub of developer and investor interest. The city council spearheaded the change by building St James' Boulevard. Now the future looks good for business and people living in this area.

We can raise a bottle of Brown Ale to new life at the site of the Tyne Brewery. Once as emblematic as the Tyne Bridge, bottles of Brown belong to an outdated idea of Newcastle.

Its 21st-Century style relies on a fluid blend of working, living, and leisure, brought together in a savvy city, up among the best in Europe.

Nicholas Craig is a partner at Watson Burton LLP