Developer hunt begins for £200m Newcastle scheme

Newcastle City Council is on the hunt for a joint venture partner to develop the final phases of the six-acre Stephenson Quarter. Knight Frank has been appointed to search for a developer to deliver a £200m mixed-use scheme beside the city’s Central railway station. The council has drawn up a masterplan for the site, which includes grade-A office space, residential buildings, retail and leisure space and a creative workshop, to be built across nine plots. However, the chosen developer will be able to suggest changes to the masterplan. The first two phases of the Stephenson Quarter development have already been completed. Phase one included the 35,000sq ft Rocket office building (pictured above), a Crowne Plaza hotel, a 360-space multi-storey car park and the Grade II*-listed Boiler Shop events space. A new North East Futures University Technical College was built under phase two. Newcastle City Council chief executive Pat Ritchie said: “We are now at a critical new stage – looking for a developer to match our big ambitions in a £200m development that will see new homes, offices and leisure space, providing an economic boost to the city. “As one of our accelerated development zones, the Stephenson Quarter is an extremely attractive opportunity for the right developer.” To send feedback, e-mail lucy.alderson@egi.co.uk or tweet @LucyAJourno or @estatesgazette