Major plc link to Harton Staithes redevelopment

Jul 2 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

AMAJOR UK plc is said to have been lined up as the key occupier for a prominent development scheme on the South Shields Riverside.

Land owner One NorthEast has put the Harton Staithes site up for sale in the national property press, with a “potential pre-let” of a 51,000sqft office building as the anchor for the scheme.

No further details have emerged on the identity of the plc alluded to by One NorthEast.

A masterplan has been drawn up by London architecture firm Studio Egret West for the wider South Shields Riverside site, with the Harton Staithes section lying at its north end.

The whole riverside regeneration scheme aims to create five new neighbourhoods for South Shields, and link the river to the town centre.

The masterplan which highlights job creation, creating sustainable communities and reconnecting neighbourhoods with the waterfront as key objectives of the scheme, with the aim being to provide 1,300 new homes, 940,000sqft of business space and retail and leisure facilities.

The near two acre site at Harton Staithes is being marketed with the potential to develop a mixed use scheme of up to 150,000sqft, with the 51,000sqft office at its heart, together with a hotel, possibly more offices, and some leisure facilities.

Land owner One NorthEast is working with agent Atisreal to seek a private sector company to develop the mixed-use scheme.

The vacant site is next to the Shields Ferry landing, close to the historic Market Square and town centre, and within walking distance of the Metro.

The Studio Egret West masterplan features fairly brutal six to seven-storey structures narrower at the base than at their full height, though One NorthEast says this plan is only “illustrative”, and intended to simply give an idea of what could be developed on the site. Studio Egret West intriguingly describes its philosophy as “to offer strategy with architectural specificity; and specificity within an overall strategy. Not just what lies within an introvert red line boundary.”

One NorthEast is working with South Tyneside Council to regenerate South Shields Riverside with public sector investment totalling around £500m. Councillor Iain Malcolm, leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “By working with our partners we will realise our vision of breathing new life into this unique industrial landscape, transforming it into a superb waterfront development which will attract major investment and bring new wealth, new housing and thousands of jobs and training opportunities.”

Ed Rowley, acting director of regeneration at One NorthEast, said: “The work going on in South Shields will help it become one of the jewels of North East regeneration.”

Initial expressions of interest for the site must be submitted by Friday, July 25.

The work in South Shields will help it become one of the jewels of North East regeneration