Newcastle Stephenson Quarter images revealed
Nov 15 2008 by Graeme King, The Journal
THESE are the first detailed images of the new £200m Stephenson Quarter of Newcastle city centre which received planning permission yesterday.
The massive site behind Newcastle Central Station is the home of railway heritage in the North East and a key site in the industrial revolution, where Stephenson’s Rocket was built.
Now the whole area is set for huge redevelopment – including a railway heritage centre at the heart of a mixed use scheme.
Newcastle-based developer Silverlink has been working on the 10-acre site for more than four years, and has now gained permission for offices, two hotels, apartments, restaurants, a gym, new public space – and of course the heritage centre and attached exhibition space.
The site is bounded by Forth Street, Orchard Street, Hanover Street and Forth Banks, and the developers and the city council hope its redevelopment will transform this side of the city centre and provide a new link between the city and the quayside.
The first phase of the Stephenson Quarter will be focused on the north west corner of the site with two office blocks known as Stephenson House and Innovation House, a Crowne Plaza hotel, a refurbished Hawthorn House office scheme, and a multi-storey car park facing Forth Banks, with parking accessed through a tunnel under a new hotel.
Crowne Plaza is part of the Intercontinental Hotel Group which also operates the Holiday Inn brand and is building a Staybridge Suites aparthotel on Gibson Street in Newcastle.
Next to the car park will be a set of steps forming part of the east-west route across the entire site and beyond to Pottery Lane.
Silverlink aims to start on site with the first phase of the Stephenson Quarter in Spring next year, with the Crowne Plaza hotel taking priority – to be ready by the end of 2011.
Michelle Percy, director of Silverlink, said: “We are very pleased with the planning permission. We aim to create a dynamic area that will reach out and draw people into the area, and encourage them to return. The development will have access for all and breathe new life into the area.”
Jules Brown, co-ordinator of the Newcastle Conservation Advisory Panel, said earlier this week that he believed the railway heritage contained in the Stephenson Quarter could have the potential to form the basis of a World Heritage site.
Mrs Percy said she thought this was unlikely – though Silverlink would welcome the status if it was conferred.
She said: “World heritage status would be manna from heaven for a developer. Who knows? I can’t really see it, but I would love to be proved wrong.”
David Slater, Newcastle City Council's executive director of environment and regeneration, said: “This is one of the biggest and most detailed applications we have ever received. It will revive a neglected area of the city to bring jobs, homes, hotels and history to life. We are very excited that such a quality development has been approved, even in tough times.”
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