Gateshead Area - Developments

[elliott]

Trinity Square Redevelopment
a proposal by Spenhill Developments (Tesco's Development Arm)

http://www.yourtrinitysquare.co.uk/

Proposal:

A new flagship Tesco Extra; 40 shops, including high street chains, independent shops and banks; and a new public square.

Provision for cafés, bars and restaurants, with some overlooking the new town square.

700 car parking spaces for the town centre.

1,000 bedroom student village with management and social facilities.

20,000 sq ft of new office space.

Prime location 110 bed hotel.

Map of the site (Red Line)



Concept Visuals

[elliott]

In the meantime, Tesco (operating as a Tesco Metro, I believe) will be moving into the old Kwik Save store on the High Street.

[johnnypd]

and what's there at the minute:

[johnnypd]

And some smaller schemes happening in the vicinity -

Gateshead gets creative to boost economy

* 19.May.09 |
* Posted in Business, Commerce and Finance and Enterprise and Start-up
* by bdaily business news network

Gateshead Council has joined forces with designer Wayne Hemingway to try to encourage small creative businesses to settle in the town.

The ‘starter for ten’ scheme offers support for small businesses, including free premises, business advice and specialist guidance. The council’s ultimate aim is to raise the profile of Gateshead as a location for creative businesses.

Buildings on the town’s High Street South have been earmarked for demolition in the long term, but instead of standing dormant until then firms will be able to use the space as a temporary base.

Wayne Hemingway said: “Nationally we are losing our low cost start up opportunities. From Kensington Market in London, where my first company Red or Dead established itself, to The Corn Exchange in Leeds. Places that used to provide low cost opportunities for independent start-ups in prime positions are disappearing as our towns and cities contribute to the worrying “Clone Town Britain” label. At a time when overseas competition is addressing this issue Britain should start to also address it to retain its creative edge.”

The ‘starter for ten’ space will join Gateshead’s other developments in the creative sector, The Sage and BALTIC, as well as nearby business venues such as the Gateshead International Business Centre.

Councillor Mick Henry, the leader of Gateshead Council, said: “This innovative new scheme is part of the overall plan to reinvigorate the centre of Gateshead. I’m delighted that Wayne Hemingway, who is a long-time friend of Gateshead, has come up with such an interesting and challenging scheme for the area.

“With its developments on Gateshead Quays and at the International Stadium, Gateshead has set a very high standard and achieved a reputation for high quality, leading edge design. We are determined to tackle the town centre regeneration in the same spirit.”

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Great idea regarding the "Starter for Ten" units, Gateshead is an ideal place to provide affordable units - although I'm not sure I'd create a shop there as there'll be next to no footfall in Gateshead centre for a long, long time, if ever. However small, affordable units for new and exciting businesses are something Tyneside needs - it would actually be my choice for the East Pilgrim St site actually but the developers won't build that in a million years.

As for the renders of the new Gateshead centre, they look absolutely awful. Seriously, seriously cheap and overbearing. Ignoring the first image (the map), would anyone fancy living in one of the flats you can see higher up in the second and third renderings? Does anyone think that these will be much more than 21st Century high-rise council flats (in character at least, even if they are sold as private housing)?

And I know they're only concept visualisations, but how often are renderings released and the final building looks better?

[Irish Blood English Heart]

I work in Gateshead and use the interchange everyday. Narey have I seen a more depressing town centre in Britain. The Tesco architecture above looks horrid but I suppose will at least bring some life into the centre. Is there any hope for Gateshead Town Centre truth be told? I wish there was as I'm growing rather fond on the place from working there.

[NewcastleStu]

Interesting letter and response on this in the Chron today. A bloke wrote in complaining that progress has ground to a halt on the demolition of the shopping centre/car park. The leader of Gateshead Council responded that until the nature of the scheme is approved Tesco have not been given permission to demolish everything. Therefore, no agreement = no demolition! Slightly concerning.

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by NewcastleStu

Interesting letter and response on this in the Chron today. A bloke wrote in complaining that progress has ground to a halt on the demolition of the shopping centre/car park. The leader of Gateshead Council responded that until the nature of the scheme is approved Tesco have not been given permission to demolish everything. Therefore, no agreement = no demolition! Slightly concerning.

any word on when a planning application is due?

anyway ive warmed to the carpark so the longer it stays the better.

[The Tynesiders]

The car park even looks better than those two designs. It's an important space and they have the chance to come up with something ground breaking that'll last for 100 years, instead the designs look like a lot of these boring buildings that are going up now.

[NewcastleStu]

Originally Posted by johnnypd

any word on when a planning application is due?

anyway ive warmed to the carpark so the longer it stays the better.

No date, they just said negotiations were ongoing.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

The thing about the car park is that I know I like it in part because I'm studying architecture. It's the only one of its kind and is a landmark. The proposed Tesco Town could be anywhere and will kill any sense of distinction. Plus the car park is, essentially, built for the use of the people. The new development will be geared and designed purely to encourage people to spend as much as possible, preferably at a Tesco till.

However I accept that from the point of view of any normal person, it's a big ugly brute of a building.

Either way it was simply not built right and isn't fit or safe for use, so the decision is pretty much out of our hands surely?

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

The thing about the car park is that I know I like it in part because I'm studying architecture. It's the only one of its kind and is a landmark. The proposed Tesco Town could be anywhere and will kill any sense of distinction. Plus the car park is, essentially, built for the use of the people. The new development will be geared and designed purely to encourage people to spend as much as possible, preferably at a Tesco till.

However I accept that from the point of view of any normal person, it's a big ugly brute of a building.

Either way it was simply not built right and isn't fit or safe for use, so the decision is pretty much out of our hands surely?

im pretty sure up close the concrete looks like it is crumbling, but i dont know if this is due to an inherent design flaw or because it has been purposely neglected, and im also not sure if it is untreatable.

I don't study architecture but ive always quite liked it - first in that local 'yes it is shit but it is OUR shit' way, but i also think it actually has a pleasant form - how sleek and sharp the levels are and their angular shape at the edges. not a big fan of the materials but i think colourful clip on plastic shite, as tesco propose, would be worse. if painted in light cream like the brunswick centre it may look better, then again it might look stupid.



i don't like the low rise section though, it's a mess, detracts from the singular vertical thrill of the carpark itself and does little to engage with the surrounding context. though in this regard the proposed tesco schemes seem just as inward looking, if not more so, so would be no improvement to the urban planning failure and may well exacerbate this probem further. but because people concentrate on 'carbuncle' status instead of looking more closely at what is wrong with the current set-up this issue gets ignored.

[maxtoon]

I have to say those Trinity Square proposals are a missed opportunity ..

Far too fussy .. and yes .. keep the GC carpark

[tcollins]

Personally, my biggest disappointment is that they're not demolishing it using explosive charges! I've always wanted to see a building come down like that, and thought that this would have been a great opportunity!

Anyway, I'm one of those annoying people who knows nothing about architecture in terms of theory and properly explaining things, but like art, I know what I like and what I don't like. Personally, I don't really like the car park, and having a local sense of affection for something doesn't mean that it's worth keeping*. I imagine that trying to retain it would seriously hinder any kind of comprehensive redevelopment of the town centre, and that kind of redevelopment is clearly what is needed in Gateshead. It's very disappointing for me that the whole scheme will be centred on a massive Tesco store, but my knowledge relates more to general uses than to the specifics of design, and so I wouldn't want to try and suggest what should be there instead of the "colourful clip on plastic shite", which I wholeheartedly agree is rubbish design.

*I should point out that I only moved to the north east about 7.5 years ago as a student, and then to Gateshead about 3 years ago, so the car park isn't something I've exactly grown up with. I appreciate that longer-standing residents may well have different opinions on the worthiness of the car park as a structure for retention.

[gregstone]

I hear that there's a bit of tension between Ghd and Tesco at the minute on this one. I would suspect that the original scale of the concept no longer stacks up economically given the recession.

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by gregstone

I hear that there's a bit of tension between Ghd and Tesco at the minute on this one. I would suspect that the original scale of the concept no longer stacks up economically given the recession.

could see a sunderland arc situation develop here....

[NewcastleStu]

Definitely, I don't see how not allowing them to complete demolition helps either way. Sure, demolition will leave an obvious undeveloped zone but then so does knocking down 90% of the area and just leaving the car park. Totally bizarre.

[geordiejon]

Originally Posted by gregstone

I hear that there's a bit of tension between Ghd and Tesco at the minute on this one. I would suspect that the original scale of the concept no longer stacks up economically given the recession.

Yes there is- I know someone in the planinng dept there- and Tesco is dragging their feet because of the recession and don't really see any big hurry cos they know they couldnt fill any of the units- so why close a profitable store squeeze into a tiny replacement when probably for years they won't be able to make their money out of the development. It has even been whispered that Tesco could even be forced out and a new developer/ supermarket move in their place- although that is probably just chinese whispers.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Originally Posted by gregstone

I hear that there's a bit of tension between Ghd and Tesco at the minute on this one. I would suspect that the original scale of the concept no longer stacks up economically given the recession.

They want to make it bigger?!

To be honest I can completely understand them wanting to hold off for a while (which I'd expect is a similar story at EPS), bearing in mind the current climate.

Fingers crossed it does fold though, it's an awful scheme.

[johnnypd]

Former Shop Offers Creative Opening for Artists
Date: 23/11/2009
Shed2e
Councillor Mick Henry (below) and Wayne Hemingway MBE help to celebrate the opening of The Shed in Gateshead
A group of artists and creative businesses have helped Gateshead Council to transform an empty furniture store in the centre of Gateshead into Britain’s latest artists’ colony.

Eleven of the region’s freshest creative business stars have been given rent-free workspace by Gateshead Council as part of a new project to help small, creative businesses to get off the ground.

The innovative ‘Starter for Ten’ scheme, developed by Gateshead Council and design guru Wayne Hemingway MBE, has seen the transformation of The Bed Shed, a redundant furniture store on Gateshead’s High Street, into a thriving creative cluster for small businesses called ‘The Shed’.

On Monday 23rd November 2009, Councillor Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, joined design guru Wayne Hemingway MBE to throw open the doors and officially welcome the first eleven creative businesses to their new premises.

Initially a pilot scheme, The Shed offers basic business premises at little or no cost to act as a catalyst for growth in the local creative sector.

Starter for Ten’s first tenants include visual artists, fashion designers, an architect, a fashion photographer, a graphic designer and an award-winning filmmaker.
'Centre for Creativity'

Cllr Mick Henry, Leader of Gateshead Council, says: “This is an innovative scheme which has really captured the imagination of local artists”.

“When we announced our plans to make Gateshead a centre for creativity by turning this huge empty building into temporary creative workspace, we were inundated with requests for space.

“We are confident that the enthusiasm brought by the eleven creative businesses will generate a vibrant and creative atmosphere in Gateshead that will invigorate our own plans for the town centre’s redevelopment.”

He added: “I’m delighted that Wayne Hemingway, who is a long-time friend of Gateshead, has come up with such an interesting and challenging scheme for the area.

Wayne Hemingway said: “This is about giving the creative community a helping hand and putting empty units to good use. It has the potential to attract leaders and entrepreneurs to Gateshead and give the local economy a boost.

“The creative sector is now one of the biggest drivers of the UK economy and yet there are very few facilities to promote entrepreneurship in this area.
'Low Cost Opportunities'

“Nationally we are losing our low cost start up opportunities. From Kensington Market in London, where my first company Red or Dead established itself, to The Corn Exchange in Leeds. Places that used to provide low cost opportunities for independent start ups in prime positions are disappearing as our towns and cities contribute to the worrying “Clone Town Britain” label. At a time when overseas competition is addressing this issue Britain should start to also address it to retain its creative edge.”

Buildings on Gateshead’s High Street South – including the former Bed Shed - have been earmarked for demolition in the long-term, but instead of standing dormant until then, the eleven creative businesses have been given the opportunity to use the large sub-divided space as a temporary base.

As part of the package, Gateshead Council is providing free business advice and specialist guidance to raise the profile of Gateshead as a location for creative business