Nicholas Craig column

Feb 16 2007 By Nicholas Craig, The Journal

Returning to Newcastle after six weeks does shake up your view of the city. Thankfully, I missed the day Newcastle was the noisiest city in the country. I wasn't alone - all of us who live or work in the centre did.

What I do regret missing was the spectacularly successful final steps of Westgate House's demise.

That woeful building, sprawled in crass concrete across an otherwise gently curving section of Collingwood Street, miraculously disappeared while I was in Australasia.

Thompsons of Prudhoe did a great job, pulling down, bit by bit, the 10-storey clodhopping construction. It expired without a bang, or even a whimper.

Seven months of slow, meticulous destruction has resulted in a whole new vista as you walk from Central Station. You can even get a glimpse of green grass.

It would be wonderful if it stayed as an open space, letting in light and emphasising the rise of the city streets behind Collingwood Street. It won't of course, so make the most of it while you can.

A new building is proposed for the site, approved two years ago. The problem is that it is also meant to occupy the site of Norwich Union House, the equally unlovely property next to where Westgate House stood. The owner of Norwich Union House, also the developer of the proposed new two-site building, has consent but no timetable for demolition.

Why wait? I'll happily knock out the first brick to start the ball rolling.

Newcastle City Library is next to go. I can remember when it was a shiny new building in 1968.

It has not aged well, although once inside the library it retains a warmth and easy flow through the generous lending, reference, children's and local history material. We are promised a 21st Century £40m library building in 2010.

My own bête noire of blots on the landscape is Commercial Union House on Pilgrim Street.

It looms like an overweight bully over the other properties. Pull it down.

Meanwhile, new schemes continue to keep the city centre alive with cranes and developer interest.

The proposed £750m Discovery Quarter, the biggest inner city regeneration project in the UK, and the Stephenson Quarter will both have a massive impact on the future of the city.

This year it's out with the old in Newcastle.

The new will take a little longer to arrive.