Ouseburn Area - Developments

[Newcastle Historian]

Victorian factory is to be converted to offices
Mar 31 2010 by Peter McCusker, The Journal



WORK is set to start on a £6m scheme to convert a former Tyneside toffee factory into a home for creative business.

The public-sector-backed scheme has just been given final approval by One North East and with the tendering for contract process under way, work is expected to start in September.

The redevelopment of the former Maynards factory will continue the development of Newcastle’s emerging cultural district of Ouseburn.

One North East has agreed to give the scheme £2,750,000, and there will be a further £3m from the European Regional Development Fund with Newcastle City Council agreeing to contribute £250,000.

Work is also expected to start next year on 100 new townhouses near the toffee factory after the Government recently selected Ouseburn as one of three sites in the country for a new homes initiative.

Peter McIntyre, director of planning and programme management at Newcastle Gateshead development company 1NG, said: “This scheme is critical for the next phase of the regeneration of Ouseburn.

“Over the past 10 years there has been development at the northern end and we are now concentrating on the southern end near the Tyne.

“This will be the first of many projects and should be a catalyst for private-sector development in the area.”

The former Maynards toffee factory in the Lower Steenbergs Yard will be converted into 24 office units varying in size between 500sq ft and 800sq ft.

They will be aimed at the commercial creative market such as graphic designers, software engineers and architects.

The space is expected to fetch around £18 per sq ft.

When finished the building will be home to 160 staff, with around 50 of these expected to be new jobs and it is hoped 12 new businesses will be attracted to the region.

The plans will see the remaining walls and floors of the existing Victorian building preserved.

The factory, which was under threat of demolition 10 years ago, is a throwback to when the Ouseburn Valley was at the heart of Tyneside’s industrial revolution.

Following more than a decade of redevelopment work, the area now boasts artists and recording studio 36 Lime Street, the 1848 flax mill designed by John Dobson, which houses dozens of artists and craft workshops, the Cluny and Ship Inn pubs, the Seven Stories centre and the Ouseburn Farm.

David Cramond, director of capital development at One North East, said: “The toffee factory will be a major addition to the cluster of creative businesses that are already making the Ouseburn Valley a unique investment location.

“The delivery of this facility will be the first phase of a wider vision to regenerate the Lower Ouseburn.”

Bill Shepherd, Newcastle City Council’s executive member for regeneration, said there were obvious benefits in bringing together the digital and creative sector in one place.

He said: “We have a chance to make a big impact in a relatively short period of time.

“By attracting these creative types to one place we can offer real benefits to businesses that are already in the area but just a little more spread out.

“I know from my own experience running small start-up businesses that one problem can be trying to find the right office space and of the benefits of having like-minded companies around you.”

[AngerOfTheNorth]

I wish we could see more images of the proposed Toffee Factory conversion. If done well, and xsite and a decent practice, this could be a cracking landmark for the valley.

[johnnypd]

i wonder where the journal got that picture from, as i dont recall seeing it in the planning documents. I think this one will be done to a slim budget due to public sector pressures on spending, so it will have to be very intelligently and sensitively constructed. those coloured panels in particular could end up looking awful and cheap, or just the right amount of liveliness to spruce up the industrial shell.

Anyway, it is great news that this will be going ahead along with the 100 large apts/townhouses (i'd love to see some visualisations of these). it's even positive that there's proposals in the upper valley too, even if neither of those are of the best quality.

[Newcastle Historian]

A larger version of the picture in 'Post 61' (from a 'hard-copy' of this mornings Journal) plus a view of the site as it is now . . .

[gregstone]

26 Lime St restaurant plan rejected by council planning committee this morning.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

On what grounds? Where exactly is the site - I know absolutely nothing about this.

On the face of it, a restaurant on Lime St would be a good thing surely?

[gregstone]

http://planningapplications.newcastl...tion=firstPage

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Thanks Greg, although it appears that the planning officer hasn't put much up here... Does anyone know of any other sources of information on this site? I think I know which building it is and on the face of it I would say that this would be a perfect spot for a riverside restaurant.

[gregstone]

Given the application reference, it was submitted in 2006 and it appears that the promoters (the owners of Secco / Alvino's) haven't been able to finance this scheme. Not sure why it's gone to committee now.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Yeah, I must admit I'm a bit confused. Why would their financial struggles result in the planners refusing it? Unless the planners have asked for a 106 contribution and the application has come in with a smaller contribution offered, or nothing at all?

To be honest, that'll not be an easy site to build on and getting businesses into the valley should be a priority, so the planners have to be realistic. Having said that we don't know the ins and outs as yet.

[DXNewcastle]

Originally Posted by AngerOfTheNorth

Yeah, I must admit I'm a bit confused. Why would their financial struggles result in the planners refusing it?

The developers submitted this admission of withdrawal
http://planningapplications.newcastl...ent-182767.pdf

Letter from Gusto Group to NCC Planning, dated 22nd March 2010:

"Re Lime Quays Development

Further to your recent correspondence regarding the imminent refer of our Project to Committee, I have outlined our situation below. Please forward to any relevant parties.

Since first submitting our reply to tender in 2003, we have done our upmost to ensure a quick completion. We have incurred over £150,00 in professional fees to date; architects, site investigation, abortive schemes subject to flood risk assessment, witdrawal of Planning Application due to Bat Survey being requested, a 15% increase in the cost of the building agreement with MGM due to the continual delays in getting on site.

The Section 106 agreement was never fully agreed as the Council was never able to satisfy our solicitor that the leasehold exchange with the boat club had taken place. I believe this still to be the situation.

Despite this Gusto UK has remained totally committed and enthusiastic to realise the vision it had in 2003 even increasing the original offer from £25,000 to £40,000 as requested in 2008. We have personally invested a considerable amount of money and time.

This was all done in the spirit of partnership which is the way we have always viewed the Lime Street Development. However due to the current economic climate we are unable to secure the required funding to realise the project in Lime Street unless the Council has any support to offer us."

Its inappropriate for me to post more about this

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Hmmm, the link says that the document isn't available.

Don't worry DXNewcastle, I wouldn't want you putting your job on the line (I'm assuming that's why it's be "inappropriate", although you needn't confirm/deny this) just to give us info on here, I'm simply curious.

[johnnypd]

I wonder if this is an image of the townhouses to be built with govt funds in the ouseburn, got it from gradeonarchitecture's website:

[Deebex]

Originally Posted by johnnypd

I wonder if this is an image of the townhouses to be built with govt funds in the ouseburn, got it from gradeonarchitecture's website:

I think that's a sketch scheme of potential housing on the 'Byker Buildings' site next to the Cumberland Arms. The site was marketed a couple of years ago and Ryders were interested in the site. To set it in context, the building you can see behind the houses is the Nationwide Autocentre and car parking.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

They're pretty interesting looking... They'd certainly add to the mix in the Ouseburn if built. It'd be interesting to see what their ground floors are like though.

[johnnypd]

they look a bit like LA dingbats

[Deebex]

Originally Posted by johnnypd

they look a bit like LA dingbats

I've never heard of that term before! Did a search on google and you are right, they are very similar.

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Haha, just googled them and I can see what you mean!

I guess the worry is that like the dingbats they'll only have parking garages on the ground floor, which leaves the street pretty dead. On the other hand, if you want to attract people with a bit of money to live right next to the Byker estate, you may need to provide secure parking (sounds awful, but that's the market).

Either way, those homes will have a cracking view.

[johnnypd]

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauljw/...7623681068575/ - this guy is going to take pics once a month as the project develops.

[Chatton11]

What's to stop people jumping off the bridge onto the roof terrace?!