New quarter has a vital role in ongoing evolution of Newcastle

Feb 27 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal

The Discovery Quarter remains the largest tract of land on the edge of Newcastle’s city centre and as such offers huge potential to drive forward the city’s regeneration programme, say Paul Nicholson and Aidan Baker.

ST JAMES’ Boulevard business district and Gallowgate are the most high-profile areas of development to-date with McAleer & Rushe’s St James’ Gate mixed-use development forming the high-profile gateway scheme at the south western end and Terrace Hill’s Time Central kickstarting Gallowgate’s transformation into a major office location.

To date about 400,000 sq ft has been developed with more schemes to come through. Other prime business addresses include Hanro’s Citygate at the northern end of St. James’ Boulevard and City Quadrant, a mixed-use scheme with about 22,000 sq ft of office space still available.

Meanwhile at No 2 St James’ Gate there is strong interest in the remaining space available.

This underlines the change in fortunes for this area and there is much more to happen here. Hanro plans for a mixed-use scheme which includes 100,000 sq ft of office space off Strawberry Place to match the office scheme by the Siddiqui family trust to develop 120,000 sq ft on the site of Wellbar House, to be called Wellbar Central.

At the meeting point of Gallowgate and St. James’ Boulevard is the former S&N site which will offer Grade A office opportunities at Downing Plaza in due course.

The Science City vision for the rest of the S&N site is another major development opportunity, building on the city’s reputation for science.

Clearly this development activity, and the future potential, have created a business address to rival the Quayside. There is more, for this part of Discovery Quarter is very close to the retail and leisure core of the city, in particular Eldon Square which is in the process of major redevelopment which will strengthen the juxtaposition of Discovery Quarter with the city centre.

Further, the road links in and out of the city are exceptional with fast links to the Western bypass via Redheugh Bridge or Scotswood Road which is now a dual carriageway link.

This is an exciting area for Newcastle which stretches from the main gates of St. James’s Park to an extensive frontage of the River Tyne, a significant land holding which, in the main, faces south.

Paul Nicholson and Aidan Baker work in Atisreal’s office agency team in Newcastle.

This is an exciting area that stretches from St James’s Park to an extensive River Tyne frontage.

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The scale and extent of the development in the Discovery Quarter are re-drawing the skyline of the city of Newcastle says Tony Wordsworth

THE Discovery Quarter is already transforming the city centre. St James' Boulevard, Terrace Hill's Time Central and Hanro's Citygate and upcoming Strawberry Place schemes have opened up the city and provided a range of much-needed office developments in prime sites.

Our building and project management consultancy is project managing the demolition of the former Scottish & Newcastle Brewery, the central focus of the new quarter.

The hub of Newcastle Science City is being created at this landmark site. It will also house a student village, apartments, retail units and car parking. The towering Downing Plaza is set to re-draw the cityscape with six buildings on a 700,000 sq ft site.

The Discovery Quarter will help to link Science City with another landmark building dedicated to life sciences, the International Centre for Life.

The news that Newcastle's biggest ever office pre-let has been agreed for the Downing Plaza site emphasises the pace of change and the eventual impact the 95 hectare development will have on such a compact city.

The successful completion of developments such as Dance City have opened up the area, attracting new restaurants and occupiers.

Tony Wordsworth is an office agency director at GVA Lamb and Edge.

PAGE TWO: Diversity pulls in talent.