Inside the 2050 vision

The heart of Tyneside could look very different if a sprawling vision to radically regenerate Newcastle and Gateshead can be turned into reality, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Daniel Holland.

This week saw the unveiling of a new masterplan which sets the ambition for 16,000 more homes, better transport links, and billions of pounds of investment by 2050.

Two new footbridges over the Tyne have been among the most eye-catching proposals from the draft Strategic Regeneration Framework (SRF) due to be considered by local councils and the North East mayor over the coming weeks.

The blueprint also commits to delivering on long-held ambitions like the building of a new arena on the Gateshead Quays, a redevelopment boom in the vast space left by the demolition of the A167 flyover, and the creation of a “world class” football stadium – whether that is an enhanced St James’ Park or a new home for Newcastle United.

But there are many more intriguing details dotted through the 87-page document – including new water taxis, parks, and a new railway station.

From building new neighbourhoods in run-down areas that have been crying out for change, to enhanced waterfront destinations and modernised travel routes, the SRF splits into eight key zones with different targets for growth and investment.

Here, we take a look at those eight “opportunity areas” and how they could change over the next 25 years.

Tyne Heart

This covers the central bridges across the Tyne and the areas either side of them – including the Newcastle Quayside, the castle, Gateshead’s Railway Quarter, and the Gateshead Quays.

The 2050 vision document describes this as the “civic, cultural and destination heart of the Urban Core”. It adds: “Its bridges will be celebrated as places and experiences as well as crossings, while animated waterfronts, culture, entertainment, homes, hospitality and public space will create activity throughout the day and evening. New development on the Gateshead bank will complement rather than imitate the historic Newcastle Quayside, creating a confident contemporary counterpart united by the river and a shared waterfront experience.”

Potential developments include:

• 1,500 homes on sites including a redeveloped Gateshead Old Town Hall and Brett Wharf;
• The planned arena on the Gateshead Quayside;
• Water taxis, lighting, seating, riverside event space and public art;

Newcastle City Core 

This covers the heart of Newcastle city centre – from Central Station, to Grey’s Monument, and up to Haymarket, as well as Eldon Square and the Pilgrim Street regeneration area.

The ambition is to “combine the elegance and authenticity of its historic centre with the confidence of a new eastern commercial and mixed-use district”. The SFR states: “Grainger Town will remain recognisably historic but become more lived-in and active, with upper floors and heritage buildings brought back into productive use. Pilgrim Street, New Bridge Street and Manors will provide the modern workplaces, homes and gateway development needed by a nationally competitive regional centre. Together, these areas will create a more resilient city core that is active from day into evening without losing the character that makes central Newcastle distinctive.”

Potential developments include:

• 1,000 homes and 1 million sqft of commercial floorspace;
• A major residential, hotel and leisure development around New Bridge Street;
• Demolishing and redevelopment Higham House;
• Bringing underused upper floors and heritage buildings back into productive use across Grainger Town;
• Refurbishment of Monument Metro station.

Gateshead Town Centre

This section covers the area including Gateshead High Street, Trinity Square, and the land around the demolished A167 flyover. The 2050 ambition is to make this a “confident, people-focused urban centre with a character distinct from, but complementary to, central Newcastle”.

The SRF states: “A reinstated network of streets and spaces will reconnect neighbourhoods and restore the town centre as a focus for everyday civic, commercial and community life. New homes, independent businesses, culture, local services, green spaces and a modern interchange will create a place that feels lived-in, welcoming and active throughout the day and evening. Its identity will come not from replicating Newcastle’s offer, but from combining Gateshead’s creativity, independence and community character with a new quality of urban living.”

Potential developments include:

• The creation of new “distinctive neighbourhoods” around Gateshead Interchange, Oakwellgate, and the former flyover corridor to attract 2,000 new homes, more businesses, and visitors.
• A refurbishment of Gateshead Interchange;
• A “blue-green corridor” on sections of the former flyover route, including new parks and planting.
• Improve east-west connections through the centre including potential investment in improving Jackson Street and Coulthards Lane.

Boulevard & Stadium 

This is the area around St James’ Park, the Newcastle Helix, Newcastle College, and Leazes Park. The biggest question surrounding this part of the city, and perhaps the entire 2050 vision, is whether Newcastle United choose to remain at St James’ or move to a new stadium.

The SRF document does not give preference to either option, but seeks to make this quarter a “nationally significant destination for sport, culture, innovation, education and urban living”. It adds: “The energy and international profile of Newcastle United Football Club will combine with the creativity, research and enterprise of Helix, the learning role of Newcastle College and the green areas of open space at Leazes Park. New buildings, streets and public spaces will create a distinctive city district that feels active beyond matchdays and connects sport, innovation, education, leisure, culture and urban living in one recognisable place with safe, usable green spaces and welcoming public realm.”

Potential developments include:

• A “world class” sports stadium, whether that is St James’ Park or a new ground;
• 1,000 new homes, including some around a completed Helix development;
• Better pedestrian links to Leazes Park, the college and Central Station;
• The potential for a new “combined transport hub”.

Eastern Gateway

This area covers Shieldfield, Battlefield, and the area around Manors Metro station. The SRF sets the ambition for a “connected, mixed and inclusive city district that marks the transition between the centre and Newcastle’s eastern neighbourhoods”. 

It states: “Development around Manors and New Bridge Street will create a stronger urban gateway, while sensitive estate renewal, university investment and improvements to existing homes will reinforce established communities. Greener streets, improved crossings and stronger links to Ouseburn will give the area a clearer identity as a well-connected place to live, learn and work, rather than simply a route through the city.”

Potential developments include:

• “Intensified” construction around Manors and New Bridge Street;
• 1,000 new homes;
• Improvements to the City Stadium park;
• Better links to the Quayside;
• Improved east-west walking, wheeling and cycling connections between Manors, New Bridge Street and Ouseburn;
• More student housing “only where supported by identified need and sensitivity to existing communities”;
• New crossings to overcome the “severance” created by the Central Motorway.

Innovation Quarter 

This covers Newcastle Civic Centre, Newcastle and Northumbria universities’ main campuses, the Royal Victoria Infirmary, and Exhibition Park. The SRF states: “Innovation Quarter will become a green, open and internationally recognised knowledge district in which healthcare, education, research, civic life and enterprise operate as a connected ecosystem. 

“Its campus character and valued open spaces will remain defining qualities, but stronger routes, shared spaces and complementary development will make the district more permeable and collaborative. Innovation will be visible in the life and design of the place, while connections to Exhibition Park, the Town Moor, Helix and surrounding neighbourhoods will give the district a distinctive setting that combines urban intensity with access to landscape.”

Potential developments include:

• The planned North East Space Skills and Technology Centre;
• Enhanced access to Exhibition Park and the Town Moor;
• Investigating the longer-term potential for a “greener Central Motorway corridor linked to potential reduction in through-traffic”.

Western Urban Villages

This includes the vast Forth Yards regeneration area to the west of Newcastle city centre, as well as Gateshead’s Clasper Village and Askew Road. The vision document sets out to establish a “family of connected riverside neighbourhoods”.

It adds: “Terraced landscapes, the Scotswood Line, Riverside Park, continuous river routes and potential new cross-Tyne connections will establish a strong shared identity, allowing each neighbourhood to feel distinctive while belonging to a coherent western growth corridor.”

Potential developments include:

• 3,750 homes, on major building sites like the Quayside West plot where the former Elswick leadworks once stood;
• A new footbridge next to the existing Redheugh Bridge;
• Delivering the planned Scotswood Line liner park adjacent to Scotswood Road;
• Improved access from Gateshead Riverside Park to the waterfront.

Eastern Urban Villages

This section stretches across Ouseburn, Gateshead’s Baltic Quarter, and further down the Tyne towards Byker and Gateshead Stadium. The SRF hopes to establish a “distinctive cross-river waterfront quarter” here, with the aim of spreading Ouseburn’s regeneration success over the river. 

It states: “Culture, music, creative production, education, affordable workspace and independent enterprise will sit alongside new homes, employment and innovation. New parks, active waterfronts and cross-river connections will give the wider area a coherent landscape identity, while allowing Ouseburn, Baltic Quarter, Southshore, Spillers and Malmo Quay to retain their own recognisable characters.”

Potential developments include:

• A new footbridge between Spillers Quay and the South Shore Road area;
• 6,000 new homes on plots including Malmo and Spillers Quay, and around Baltic Quarter;
• Continuous walking and cycling access along both riverbanks;
• Improved links to Gateshead Stadium;
• The opening of a new Gateshead East railway station.