The revival of Newcastle’s West End has stepped up a gear with the news that planners have given the green light for the first stage of an ambitious new development in the area. 

Regeneration specialist Priority Sites has received planning approval to start the first phase in the transformation of Loadman Street, which will bring new business space and employment opportunities to the former housing site in Elswick.

“This is another major step forward in the regeneration of the West End,” said Cllr Mike Cookson, Executive Member for Regeneration at Newcastle City Council. “It’s one of several high-profile schemes which are set to transform the area, with new jobs, better homes and an enviable lifestyle.”

The scheme, which has been developed by Priority Sites in partnership with architects Mosedale Gillatt and Newcastle City Council, will create 50,000 square feet of workspace, with 12 single-storey workshop units alongside eight two-storey office units on the lower part of the site.

Priority Sites, a joint venture company between English Partnerships and the Royal Bank of Scotland, will invest £6.7 million in the first phase of the scheme creating 120 jobs in the process. The scheme is linked to the planned redevelopment of the nearby Whitehouse Enterprise Centre and a further site at Riversdale Way, Lemington.

The decision also paves the way for re-contouring of the full 13-acre site in preparation for later phases of the scheme, which are expected to include development of 142 new homes on the upper part of the site in 2009.

Priority Sites’ projects director Amanda Oliver commented: “We are delighted to have been given the green light for phase one of this project, which will encourage new start-ups and SMEs to anchor their businesses in the West End.

“We have worked hard to ensure the project can deliver quality commercial accommodation alongside a vibrant residential community. This has also included locating the business accommodation at a lower level than the housing to cut out noise and minimise any impact on local people.”

The scheme is also set to include a new green area, which will run right through the site and link it to the recently refurbished Elswick Park nearby.

It is one of a string of major projects aiming to transform life in the West End, including the planned £100 million redevelopment of nearby Cruddas Park and over 2000 new homes earmarked for Scotswood over the next fifteen years.

Preparatory work is set to start in the autumn, with building work on the commercial accommodation set to follow early in 2009.

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