Updated plans have been submitted for the Quayside West development which aims to completely regenerate one of Newcastle city centre’s most prominent brownfield sites.
Developer Newby has been working with DPP Planning and FaulknerBrowns Architects to respond to the requirements of the city’s planners, delivering a vision and framework for the 15-acre former Calders site on Skinnerburn Road, which has lay dormant for 20 years.
The development will bring an investment of up to £250 million to the city, supporting more than 500 jobs during its 10-year construction and creating a wage value of around £80million for direct construction jobs alone. It is estimated Quayside West will bring around £26m of additional household expenditure into the local economy every year once it is fully operational, as well as creating hundreds of ongoing employment opportunities.
Working in close consultation with the planners and taking on board their feedback, the revised plans have brought more open space to the ‘urban village’ development, as well as ensuring the spectacular views from the site are maximised. Buildings have been reconfigured to allow views of the River Tyne from the entrance to the site as well as opening up the arrival space with the removal of a commercial unit. The hotel has been re-orientated to free up more space in the central plaza, with a new public green square and ‘break-out’ space for commercial uses. To the west of the site, a gateway building now marks the site entrance, and heights have been reduced and blocks reconfigured, allowing for a significant increase to the Western Gardens park and recreation space. The number of dwellings now stands at 1,100, reduced from the initial plan of 1,500, to enable the creation of more open spaces to be enjoyed by all.
A continuous accessible route, the ‘Upper Quayside Walk’ is proposed from the west entrance along the escarpment edge. The footpath has been configured to take advantage of the characterful Tyne Gorge views, with seating areas to enable residents and visitors to pause and enjoy the sights. A broad wildflower grasses and tree embankment buffers the public footpath from the ‘Riverside’ buildings whilst working as an extension to the existing wooded escarpment.
Simon Hepden at Newby said: “We feel Quayside West is a very special opportunity to do something amazing in the heart of Newcastle. Especially at the current time, it is so important to still be looking at ways we can help grow and invest in our cities. Every time we adapt plans we do so to ensure this is a development which everyone can get behind. As always, planning and consultation is a journey, and rarely do things stay as they are first presented, getting refined and improved as they go through the process. With the significant infrastructure improvements it brings, including the spine road and off-site highways works, Quayside West could be the catalyst which opens up the whole Forth Yards regeneration area for development. It’s an exciting time.”
Jo Robison, director at DPP Planning, added: “We’ve worked in very close collaboration with the council to ensure the new plans deliver what they’ve asked us for as far as possible. Newby has a real and deliverable vision for the site which is exciting to see and there really is no other space like this in Newcastle. Everyone involved feels very passionately that Quayside West can be a genuinely inspiring environment for both residents and visitors.”
Newby, the developer behind the scheme, has experience in regenerating building and land projects, with current schemes in York and Harrogate, as well as previously working on large scale developments such as Velocity Village in Sheffield. For more information visit www.newby.co.uk