Science City / Science Central | Newcastle | Various | Proposed

[Steve Ellwood]

New Item from Newcastle City Council @ http://www.newcastle.gov.uk/news-sto...-city-director

Search starts for Newcastle Science City director
Published date:
Thu, 08/12/2011 - 11:33

Recruitment has started for a new director to head Newcastle Science City as the organisation moves into a new phase of operation.

The future of Newcastle Science City was secured in September after its two main partners, Newcastle University and Newcastle City Council, committed to ongoing investment alongside a more focused remit for the organisation.

A strategic review carried out by the partners following the withdrawal of the third founding partner One North East saw Newcastle University and Newcastle City Council continuing to invest up to £500k each year for the next three years. With previous director Peter Arnold stepping down from Science City in the summer, the review also resulted in the organisation concentrating on four key areas of:

Support and Inward investment - promoting and supporting inward investment both for the Science Central site and for science based business elsewhere. Leveraging funding through complementary projects.

Marketing and communication – promoting Newcastle’s science and expertise externally and ensuring business and community engagement in science and technology.

Business Engagement and Support - focussing on business engagement and networking and working with partners to ensure there is appropriate support for businesses, particularly high growth and science related activities

Community Engagement – promoting the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) educational pathways, and to liaise with businesses and education and training providers to help ensure good alignment between the demand and supply for skills.

Chair of Newcastle Science City, Paul Walker, said: “The new director will join us as we on embark upon an exciting new chapter, building upon Newcastle’s international reputation as a city of science.

“The successful candidate will have specific knowledge of science based industries as well as significant experience of securing business funding, both public and private, and broad business acumen gained at a strategic level. The director will also have to be the interface between the Science City partners, government, and the scientific and technology business sectors.”

Among the list of key duties will be the attraction of private sector occupants to the Science Central site and a focus on inward investment to support the establishment of new businesses across the city’s other key science sites.

Professor Chris Brink, Vice Chancellor of Newcastle University, added: “Securing Newcastle’s place as an excellent location for science and technology, and to build on the progress already being made across the city, will be a key role for the new director.

“The Science Central site, in particular, provides an opportunity for hi-tech firms to be situated alongside world-leading university researchers, in a city that is globally recognised for its scientific excellence. We expect this will be a very compelling business proposition and our recent success in securing £6m in Regional Growth Funding to support its development demonstrates the confidence that the government has in our ambitions for the site.”

Nick Forbes, leader of Newcastle City Council, said: “We are looking for an individual who shares our passion to see Newcastle realise the full economic potential of its science-based industries.

“Newcastle’s status as a science city continues to gain more and more recognition across the globe with the city already twice named the UK’s most sustainable city and its current 2014 European Green Capital bid. The work of Newcastle Science City plays a critical role in ensuring the city achieves its scientific ambitions.”
Details of the post can be found at www.ncl.ac.uk

Newcastle Science City is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), managed by the Department for Communities and Local Government, securing £2.3million of ERDF investment. The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-2013 is bringing over £300m into the North East to support innovation, enterprise and business support across the region.

Editors: For more information, contact Laura White, on laura.white@newcastlesciencecity.com 0191 211 3021 or 07739 126 152 or Helen McLoughlin, on Helen.mcloughlin@newcastlesciencecity.com or 0191 211 3020

About Newcastle Science City

Newcastle Science City was set up by Newcastle University, Newcastle City Council and One North East to help the region realise the full economic potential of its science-based industries.

It delivers a range of activities including the development of a close-knit scientific community and encouraging more people to work in scientific industries. Key to its remit is creating innovative high-growth businesses.

Newcastle Science City key achievements
- Created 23 companies that are now trading in the North East of England
- Worked with 446 regional companies to commercialise new insight-led ideas, helping them to innovate and grow
- Promoted Newcastle as a city of science on a regional, national and international level
- Reached over 6,000 schoolchildren across the city with the Science Education Innovation Partnership (SEIP) programme, which aims to make science more fun, engaging and relevant to students and offers support to teachers
- Reached 1,373 residents with its community engagement programme of events and activities designed to enable people to use science to help drive change in their communities. It has also assisted 142 residents with skills and personal development and has assisted 72 people with their efforts to get a job.

About ERDF funding

The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme which runs from 2007 to 2013. This is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development.

The ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is focusing on:

Innovation – promoting science technology and innovation in businesses and institutions across the region.
Enterprise and business support – encouraging more people to start up in business, particularly those in disadvantaged areas, and helping established businesses develop, grow and innovate.

Over £300m ERDF is available for the region from 2007-13. ERDF investment is limited to 50% of total eligible cost and must be matched by other public and private sources. For every pound of ERDF investment, we lever another pound for the key priorities of innovation, enterprise and business support.

[Newcastle Historian]

.
These two recent posts from the. Regional Funding. thread, have potentially major implications for the Science City/Science Central Project . . .

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Nick Clegg urged to back £150m
Tyneside Regeneration Schemes
by Adrian Pearson, The Journal, December 8th 2011


DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg will today be urged to support £150m worth of plans, that would create thousands of jobs on Tyneside over the next 25 years. Mr Clegg has been given a 'borrowing plan' from Newcastle and Gateshead councils in which money would be spent on major regeneration schemes set to create around 20,000 jobs over the next two decades.

Mr Clegg, speaking today at a talk on the Importance of Cities to the wider economy, is thought to be supportive of the Tyneside bid and it is understood the Treasury have said it is the most advanced of those handed in by English councils. The Deputy Prime Minister is expected to announce that plans such as Newcastle’s will be “fast tracked” in a major Government growth scheme and he has been told that if he gives public backing to the Tyneside scheme as part of his “cities plan”, work would start next year to deliver a much needed boost to the city’s construction industry.

Newcastle’s bid includes the Science Central site on the former Tyne Brewery, land behind the Central Station, and a new shopping area around East Pilgrim Street, while Gateshead’s includes continuing redevelopment along the Gateshead Quays and work to create new office space behind the Baltic and a Conference Centre next to the Sage.

The original plans for an accelerated development zone in Newcastle were much smaller, with expectations of a £35m scheme dropping to less than half that earlier this year. Since then Newcastle and Gateshead lost out to the five other North East council leaders when those authorities secured Government backing for an Enterprise Zone built around Sunderland and the North bank of the Tyne.

Read More (Two Pages) - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz1fw9aVqdQ

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Further to

Nick Clegg backs Tyneside regeneration plans
by Adrian Pearson, The Journal, December 9th 2011


DEPUTY Prime Minister Nick Clegg has set out his support for Tyneside’s £150m growth plans.

The Liberal Democrat leader has told the UK’s biggest cities that he wants to hand them the powers to lead their own economic growth, and singled out Newcastle as the prime example of how this could happen.

Yesterday, The Journal revealed plans by Newcastle and Gateshead councils to ask the Government for borrowing powers to invest £150m in an accelerated development zone creating around 20,000 jobs over the next two decades.

The cash will be paid back from the business rates collected from firms moving into new shopping centres and office blocks in a scheme known as tax incremental financing.

Speaking at a conference in Leeds yesterday, Mr Clegg confirmed his plans to introduce this scheme.

He added: “We are going to enable a number of larger schemes across the country, which, like enterprise zones will have longer-term revenue streams, creating the certainty needed to deliver major investments. We will be publishing further details shortly. And I hope we will see ambitious projects – like the one being developed in Newcastle – coming forward.” Newcastle Council leader Nick Forbes has cautiously welcomed the news.

Read More (Three very interesting pages) - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz1g2437HBx

[Newcastle Historian]

.
Evening Chronicle, Wednesday 14th March 2012 . .

[Adrian_Swall]

Site (the 'green' star breweries?) pictured yesterday the 13th of March 2012.

Where exactly is the coal headed to after it leaves the site I wonder?

[Adrian_Swall]

2012/0520/01/DET | Enabling works comprising demolition of existing structures, extraction of coal from near surface coal seams, compaction and reinstatement of the site to the required masterplan levels followed by interim uses comprising creation of community gardens, hardstanding, footpaths and change of use. | Former S&N Brewery Site At Land To The North Of Back Westgate Road, To The West Of St James Boulevard, To The East Of Diana Street And Buckingham Street, To The South Of Pitt Street And To The South West Of Wellington Street

http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=M2MCQEBS00900

Planning Application.

Lots of documents which I haven't all gone through.

Seems there will be some landscaping across the site.

Also the bottom of Corporation Street next to St James' Boulevard will be stopped up into a 'hammerhead'.

Not sure as yet as to when the coal extraction will start?

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by Adrian_Swall

2012/0520/01/DET | Enabling works comprising demolition of existing structures, extraction of coal from near surface coal seams, compaction and reinstatement of the site to the required masterplan levels followed by interim uses comprising creation of community gardens, hardstanding, footpaths and change of use. | Former S&N Brewery Site At Land To The North Of Back Westgate Road, To The West Of St James Boulevard, To The East Of Diana Street And Buckingham Street, To The South Of Pitt Street And To The South West Of Wellington Street

http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=M2MCQEBS00900

Planning Application.

Lots of documents which I haven't all gone through.

Seems there will be some landscaping across the site.

Also the bottom of Corporation Street next to St James' Boulevard will be stopped up into a 'hammerhead'.

Not sure as yet as to when the coal extraction will start?

This was a notable paragraph in the Planning Statement:

3.3.1.4 Coal Extraction Works
The current programme indicates that the coal extraction works may correspond with Olympic football matches due to be held at St. James’ Park between 26 July 2012 and 4 August 2012. Once the Contractor has been appointed and the programme of works has been finalised, provision will be made for the site to be shut down for the duration of this period, if required, to ensure minimal disruption to the Olympic events.

[Steve Ellwood]

Photograph of the barren site - 23rd June 2012.



Photograph hosted on http://ellwood.fototime.com/Newcastle%20Breweries

[Newcastle Historian]

Some important information relevant to Science Central/Science City, posted today on the "Regional Funding" thread . . .

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...&postcount=450

[Squipper]

Does anybody know what that one remaining structure left standing on the site is please?

[Tooooon]

Originally Posted by Steve Ellwood

Photograph of the barren site - 23rd June 2012.

Photograph hosted on http://ellwood.fototime.com/Newcastle%20Breweries

Just looking at that photo here.They surely could have knocked down the flats ,substation and run down buildings between downing plaza and the building which houses the law firm-they don't fit in at all.

[Adrian_Swall]

The flats, Hill Court will be coming down at some stage.
NCC (YHN) are buiding new accommodation at Wentworth Court in the west end.

The land in the forground is the subject of a planning application - from memory it's St James' Point?

Think the sub-station will have to remain.

[BigLebowski]

Originally Posted by Adrian_Swall

The land in the forground is the subject of a planning application - from memory it's St James' Point?

Think the sub-station will have to remain.

Not quite, St James Point (now to be known as Sports Direct Arena Point) is on the other side of the ground, next to Barker and Stonehouse

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=981880

IIRC that triangle of land is mooted for more student res. Nice view of the sub-station they'll have as well....

[Steve Ellwood]

Originally Posted by BigLebowski

Not quite, St James Point (now to be known as Sports Direct Arena Point) is on the other side of the ground, next to Barker and Stonehouse

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=981880

IIRC that triangle of land is mooted for more student res. Nice view of the sub-station they'll have as well....

Of course its not helped by the fact that there are proposed developments of student accommodation, both named as St James' Point at Strawberry Place and at Pitt Street.

Strawberry Place - http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=LMPSONBSAP000
2011/0896/01/DET | Demolition of disused electrical substation and construction of seven storey building incorporating new substation and bar/restaurant (Class A3/A4) on ground and first floor and five storeys above of student residential accommodation comprising 32 bedrooms in 13 flats (class C3/C4) as amended by plans received 16 and 18 November and 5 December 2011 and supplemented by e mails received 30/8/11, 31/8/11 and 6/9/11 and photo images received 1/12/11 and 5/12/11 | Site Of NEDL Electricity Sub-Station Strawberry Place Newcastle upon Tyne

Pitt Street - http://publicaccess.newcastle.gov.uk...=LYAXG7BSAP000
2012/0224/01/DET | Erection of 10 storey building accommodating 214 studio apartments for students and hard and soft landscaping as amended by plans received 3, 4 and 17 April 2012 | Former Magpies Club Pitt Street Newcastle upon Tyne

[BigLebowski]

Ah, hadn't realised both were called St James Point.... Adrian was right in that case, apologies!

Little unimaginative by the developers there mind!

[Adrian_Swall]

No worries Dude!

I guess the first one to be topped out will get to be called St James' Point.

Great if they could both start building on the same day!

A kind of speed erection wins! (if you pardon the expression!)

[toonlad]

Increasingly seems to be Newcastle University calling the shots on Science City from what I hear.

For anyone with high hopes for this site I would say expect a low rise satellite campus, student residential and a housing development to be the future for the brewery site.

[Newcastle Historian]

Newcastle to have the first City Centre
with an Open Cast Coal Mine
by Adrian Pearson, Evening Chronicle, July 31st 2012


Aerial view of the Science Central Site, near St James' Park

NEWCASTLE is set to become the first place in the UK to have an open cast coal mine up-and-running in the City Centre.

Adrian Pearson looks at the task ahead.

Why are we getting a coal mine?

Land next to St James’ Park is earmarked as the future home of high-tech green energy research offices. When planners were preparing the site they realised that it sat above a lot of coal. It’s a legacy of the former North Elswick Colliery which occupied the site until the 1940s.

What are they going to do with it all?

Newcastle University and the Science City team have appointed Hall Construction to prepare the site. They will clear out the coal and get the land ready for work to begin on the new building.

What happens to the coal?

It goes to Yorkshire, where it will be sold to power stations, much as Tyneside coal previously was.

How big a project is this?

Mining will take place over 35 weeks of a 45-week project with the mining work starting up in October. Anywhere up to 45,000 tonnes of coal will be extracted.

So, will there be a big hole left in the City Centre?

No, the contractors will work on around 19 sections. They dig up the surface, put that to one side, take out the coal then fill in the land again, making it stable enough to build on.


Read More (Two Pages) - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north...#ixzz22CQYxgGE

[Squipper]

Surely coal mining isn’t very green?
It’s not, but it turns out those years of delay on the site have actually helped. Lots of debris litters the site, says Newcastle University’s Professor David Manning, including various bits made with large amounts of calcium. These minerals capture and store at carbon in a type of limestone. Since 2007 the site has soaked up 38,000 tonnes of CO², with some 27,000 tonnes more still to come.
This, scientists say, will more than account for the amount released when the coal is used in power stations.

Notice they didn't mention that most of that will be re-released once they start breaking the ground again.

[thenorthumbrian]

Originally Posted by Squipper

Notice they didn't mention that most of that will be re-released once they start breaking the ground again.

Is the CO2 captured within the limestone itself and is there a way of removing it from the site without releasing it into the atmosphere ?
And in the grand scheme of things is what happens here going to make that much difference compared to the worlds really big polluters such as the US and China ?

[Squipper]

As soon as you start breaking it up some is gonna be released, it's unavoidable, just need to leave the bits as large as possible. Trust them not to tell the entire story though.