Tyne ‘twins’ in line for City of Year award

Aug 15 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal

EUROPEAN judges have been shown the architectural delights of Tyneside as Newcastle and Gateshead team up to compete for a City of the Year award.

The so-called twin cities are in the final round of the Academy of Urbanism competition, which could see them hailed as Europe’s leading example of city management. Also up for the gong in the Urbanism Awards 2009 are Bristol and Manchester, with Newcastle having already knocked out arch-rival Liverpool in an earlier judging round. The civic pride awards are designed to celebrate what the judges call “life enhancing” councils which improve neighbourhoods and local economies.

While winning the award is not the same achievement as being named City of Culture would have been, it is a com- petition the leaders of Newcastle and Gateshead are proud to be shortlisted for. Yesterday staff at the Newcastle Gates- head Initiative (NGI) gave the judges a guided tour, which included a look round the former brewery site now destined to be the home of Newcastle’s Science City.

NGI boss Andrew Dixon said he and the council bosses were delighted to be in the running. Mick Henry, leader of Gateshead Council, said: “It’s wonderful to be shortlisted for such a prestigious award.

“Gateshead and Newcastle welcome thousands of visitors from Europe each year, and they clearly already see us as a great and dynamic European city. So we should face up to competition with some confidence. Everyone I meet from overseas who has visited us says what a brilliant place it is, but we’re up against strong opposition and we’ll have to expend all our efforts to convince the judges that we deserve the title of European City of the Year 2009.”

John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “The last decade has seen a great revival of Britain’s cities, and NewcastleGateshead is right at the forefront.

“Those of us who live here have seen, experienced and been part of this transformation, and we know that we now compare with the best that Europe can offer. We have a vibrant cultural life and a quality of architecture that is hard to beat. We’re ambitious to be the very best.”

Newcastle’s street scene has already won a national award with Grainger Town winning the Great Neighbourhood category of the awards last year.

The winners will be announced in Liverpool on November 26.