Massive plan can create 4000 jobs

Oct 17 2007 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

UP to 4,700 jobs are expected to be created if one of Newcastle’s biggest regeneration schemes in recent years is approved.

Details emerged yesterday of plans for the Stephenson Quarter, behind Newcastle Central Station, which will be one of the main topics at a national conference which opens in the city today.

It will look at how historic towns and cities can marry development and regeneration while keeping heritage features – especially from the industrial past – and turn history into a valuable asset.

The Stephenson Quarter concept will be a case study at the first annual conference to be held in Newcastle of the English Historic Towns Forum.

And it emerges that a centrepiece of plans for the area is a 250-bed, four-star hotel to be run by Crown Plaza, sited on Forth Street next to Hawthorn House – which was part of the 19th Century Hawthorn engineering works that turned out marine and locomotive work.

Developers Silverlink, who were responsible for the award-winning Trinity Gardens scheme on Newcastle Quayside, also plan a boutique hotel in one of five listed buildings which were part of the world’s first purpose-built locomotive works opened in the 1820s and run by Robert Stephenson.

The Robert Stephenson Trust would stay in one of the buildings in South Street, which contains the railway genius’ office, while the other three would be converted into studio offices. Stephenson Square would be one of three new public spaces and a focal feature of the scheme, which also includes shops, cafes, a restaurant and flats.

Hawthorn Square, facing the 19th Century railway water tower behind the Central Station, would be a gateway to the new quarter, which would also include Coppersmith Square with river views. A lengthy gap left along the side of Forth Banks where terraced homes once stood would be filled by a multi-storey car park.

The plan is believed to be the biggest single detailed planning application to be received by the city council. If approval is given, it is hoped that work would start next summer, taking four to five years to complete.

The scheme would tie in with the existing Central Square office complex and the current conversion and new-build flats scheme at the Bonded Warehouses site facing the Copthorne Hotel.

The Stephenson Quarter will be the subject of a major presentation to the conference’s 100 delegates by Andy Roberts, design director of architects, master planners and urban designers Waring and Netts, based in South Gosforth, Newcastle.

“This would be a very exciting, major piece of regeneration, creating a 21st Century development which would be firmly embedded in its historic setting,” said Mr Roberts.

Silverlink moved into the area four years ago, and has been working on plans ever since. Silverlink marketing director Michelle Percy said: “The scheme would open up to the public listed buildings which have been hidden gems. It would create a vibrant area that people would want to visit.”

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A vital part of our region’s identity

THE importance of the North-East’s industrial past to its identity and character will be stressed at the conference by a regional expert.

“There is still a perception that industrial heritage represents a period of history which we want to leave behind and is something to be swept away,” said Ian Ayris, Newcastle City Council historic environment manager and Tyne and Wear county industrial archaeologist, who will be speaking at the conference.

“We are all aware of facets of the Industrial Revolution which have left scars we rightly want to erase. But industrial heritage is a very important part of our development and it has taken years for its relevance to be properly understood.”

As well as the Stephenson Quarter, the conference will be told about successes in the Lower Ouseburn Valley, where former industrial buildings have been re-used, such as the flax mill, now the Cluny, and the steam powered corn mill which is Seven Stories.

Former warehouses on Newcastle Quayside are now the Malmaison Hotel and the Milk Market flats.

Delegates will take supper tonight in the Turbinia Hall at Newcastle Discovery Museum, with later optional tours including one of historic pub architecture and interiors.