Design centre plans are put before council

Dec 17 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

LONG awaited plans for a new design centre for the North East have been submitted to Gateshead Council.

The £13m project is being developed by One North East in partnership with developer Terrace Hill.

The Design Centre North is intended to house the next generation of innovative design companies in the region, and act as focus point for the design industry in the region, at the heart of a “design network”.

The striking building will be four storeys high and stand in the heart of the Baltic Business Quarter, within walking distance of the Gateshead quayside, Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and The Sage Gateshead music centre.

If planning permission is granted, work could start early next year.

A board to lead the development of the design network – made up of representatives from the region’s business sector – has been appointed.

The design network will be led by Sunderland-based RTC North, which specialises in helping companies develop new products, in partnership with Newcastle, Teesside and Northumbria universities.