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The rejuvenation of the North Bank of the Tyne has taken a major step forward with the appointment of consultants to prepare a masterplan for one of the country’s biggest regeneration projects.
Property and regeneration expert, GVA Grimley, have been selected by the North Bank of the Tyne Project Board, - a partnership bringing together North Tyneside Council, Newcastle City Council, One NorthEast and English Partnerships, to lead on this ambitious regeneration strategy.
They will provide the detailed blueprint that will guide the development of a 600 hectares site, stretching from the Walker Riverside Industrial Park in Newcastle to the Bull Ring Dock in North Shields.
This includes making recommendation on the future use of the former Swan Hunter shipyards site and the regeneration of Wallsend town centre, with a university presence at the centre.
A priority for the project is to provide increased training and employment opportunities for residents, particularly for young people in the area.
“All partners are committed to delivering on our shared vision of revitalising the North Bank of the Tyne,” said North Tyneside’s Elected Mayor, John Harrison, who has led on the project initiated by the closure of the Swan Hunter shipyards
“Together we want to create a thriving area of growth, of continued regional importance for marine and other employment development, with education and skills so vital to our region at its core, supporting the sustainability of local communities, particularly Wallsend.“
Martin Swales, North Tyneside Director of Development and Chair of the North Bank of the Tyne Leadership Group said: “The appointment of GVA Grimley is a major step forward in the delivery of one of the biggest regeneration projects in the country.
“This site has enormous potential for future employment use – building on the success of the exciting marine developments already operating on this site in the global market.
“This is the optimum time to intervene and together with the expertise of GVA Grimley the partnership can ensure the North Bank of the Tyne has a successful and sustainable future to benefit the city region.”
The GVA Grimley team will build on the findings of the White, Young Green scoping study, which recommended that the swathe of land along the North Bank of the Tyne has significant potential to grow the region’s marine related industries, which are already at the forefront of marine technology.
GVA Grimley will have the benefit of the recent further detailed land investigations and be expected to review all the existing planning blueprints for land in the area to create a single framework for delivery.
Over the next six months they will produce an integrated social, economic and environmental framework for the regeneration of the River Tyne North Bank corridor and adjacent Wallsend town centre that results in a vibrant and vital district for living, working and leisure.
Consultation with the local communities and key stakeholders - including businesses and landowners – will be an important element of the delivery of the framework and business plan.
Priorities include ensuring improved accessibility and transport opportunities linking the riverside and adjacent neighbourhoods, and the development of a business plan for the regeneration of the area and the framework will complement the ongoing regeneration on the south side of the river.
Gerry Hughes, from GVA North Tyneside, said: “To produce a strategy for such an important part of North Tyneside, and indeed the North East region, is a fantastic opportunity.
“It is not every day that you get the chance to set a regeneration strategy for 600 hectares of one to the most iconic waterfronts in the world.
“This opportunity plays to GVA Grimley’s strengths of combining vision with robust delivery advice. In this instance we lead a world-class team including EDAW, Parsons Brinkerhoff, Dutch architects Erick van Egeraat, Lend Lease, Fulcrum Consulting and Kevin Murray Associates, which provides the required vision and engineering rigour.
“We are excited by the challenge and look forward to working with North Tyneside Council, Newcastle City Council and One North East, as well as the other landowners across the area.”
Cllr John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “The Tyne is now re-inventing itself as a centre of excellence in marine engineering.
“It has a major future too in the manufacture of renewable energy systems. This opportunity is simply enormous and very welcome good news”.
Ed Rowley, Acting Director of Regeneration at One NorthEast, said: “The North Bank of the Tyne has massive redevelopment potential and will be one of the most significant and exciting regeneration schemes seen in this region.
“We believe the site will become one of North East England’s leading locations for industry and education and the appointment of GVA Grimley is a significant step towards realising this potential.”
Steve Gawthorpe, Area Director of English Partnerships, the National Regeneration Agency, said: “The regeneration of this area has the scale and importance to be of regional significance and would herald a change in fortunes for this area of Tyneside.
“The benefits will impact greatly on the adjoining Wallsend town centre and housing area acting as a catalyst for its renaissance.
“The appointment of GVA Grimley is an important stage in helping to bring the regeneration opportunities to fruition.”
The final framework will support all partners in marketing the North Bank of the Tyne sites and attracting inward investment to deliver all recommendations within a 20-year timescale.
Newcastle East and Wallsend MP Nick Brown said: "This is an important study.
“The evidence clearly shows an industrial future for the North of the Tyne. I welcome this conclusion and call on everyone involved to work together to bring jobs to East Newcastle and Wallsend.
“Much progress has been made, and I am optimistic for the final outcome."
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