Newcastle NE1 - Business Improvement District / B.I.D.

[Newcastle Historian]

This is an organisation that can potentially play an important role in enhancing the fabric of our City Centre. As such, I think it merits it's own thread, so that we can report on its activities and perhaps even 'suggest' works that it could get involved in, which (as an organisation) it might find useful . . .



From their Website;

LINK - http://domain2160104.sites.fasthosts.com/new.html

Newcastle NE1 is an independent limited company based in Newcastle city centre.

Our role is to deliver the Newcastle Business Improvement District (BID) a business-led initiative which aims drive forward Newcastle city centre by enhancing its physical and business environments.

We expect to see millions of pounds of additional investment over the next five years, increasing the competitiveness of Newcastle and ensuring its position as one of the UK’s leading cities.

Newcastle NE1 Ltd, Provincial House, Northumberland Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7DQ Tel: 0191 277 1920 F: 0191 277 1923 Email: info@newcastlene1ltd.com

Also from their website, a few things that particularly interest ME, amongst their proposed activities;


Rejuvenating Central Station and Reconnecting it to the City

NE1, representing its 1200 business members and working very closely with the City council, has highlighted improvements to the station and its surrounding area as a key to Newcastle’s ongoing regeneration. With business showing real desire to take ownership of this, we have, what we believe, is a unique opportunity to drive real change.

We are currently in the early stages, however the potential is huge. Great improvements to the inside of the station can be made with relatively little investments, while the economic impact of the public realm enhancements, complementing the development already being delivered by the private sector in the vicinity, will be very significant. Likewise, “reconnecting” the station at the core of the city centre as it continues to evolve will have a direct commercial impact.

The Working Party is chaired by Gavin Black and includes Barry Rowland, Chief Executive Newcastle City Council and Sean Bllick, Chief Executive Newcastle


NE1 Operations

This Working Party will oversee the delivery of NE1’s practical day to day programme of improvements. These include the work of the Street Rangers and Clean Team, the construction of a series of Pocket Parks and the delivery of improved, coordinated signage. The Working Party will also take an interest in city centre events, markets (in particular Grainger Market) and revenue generation. The Working Party is chaired by Tim Lamb, General Manager Eldon Square, and includes David Slater, Director of Environment and Regeneration Services Newcastle City Council and the NE1 Operations Manager.


Signage

NE1 is working with Newcastle City Council with a view to delivering coordinate signage across the city centre. Whilst this will improve the visitor experience the statistics demonstrate that it will also have a direct economic impact as more visitors stay longer and spend more money in the city centre.


Pocket Parks

As a compact city centre, Newcastle is lacking in public space in which people can meet friends, enjoy a working lunch or simply take a moment to relax. NE1 has identified a number of suitable areas for Pocket Parks and is liaising liaise with Newcastle City Council with a view to beginning the Planning application process.

__________________


Actually, the 'Pocket Parks' idea is something that particularly interests me. I have always felt that some small unused and/or un-lanscaped little areas within the City Centre OFTEN completely let down and spoil the overall appearence of the place. These relatively small areas can (and do) have an impact far greater than thier size would suggest. An untended area like this, next to (say) a "multi-million pound" development, can make the whole area (despite the huge investment) look scruffy, and often it can mean the new area does not 'join on' properly with the pre-existing city landscape.

A proliferation of 'temporary surface car parks', also has this (or a very similar) impact on our cityscape - but this is a slightly separate issue, we can perhaps address later.

In the old "Full Summary of Projects" thread, I suggested that there was one 'small pocket-area of neglect' that I thought could become the subject of their Pocket Parks attention, and I inserted the below photo that I had recently taken from the top floor of the new City Library . . .



What do you think?

I am sure we can all suggest some other potential Pocket parks areas, whether or not you support the above one.

Also, there are many other aspects of their work we can discuss, I'm sure.

This thread is 'BID-specific' and is not meant to replace the 'Public Realm' thread, though there will probably be crossovers with this thread . . .

[WilfBurnsFan]

The Dex's Garage Corner pocket park idea is an excellent one, and would gain in utility if that stretch of New Bridge Street were ever to be made traffic-free.

[NewcastleStu]

I've not heard about anything to do with Central Station before, I wonder what their plans are?

[johnnypd]

pulling down the ticket barriers they're erecting would be a good start. I just realised yesterday as i was catching my train that there is a ticket machine on the other side of the barriers, to go with much of the shops, the cash machines and the toilets. D'oh! And even though there are no gates fitted to the barriers, they're already creating a bottleneck and vast amounts of people try to leave/enter at the same time.

[WilfBurnsFan]

The empty plot hidden by hoardings on Pilgrim Street (near Alderman Fenwick's) might make a nice PP.

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by WilfBurnsFan

The empty plot hidden by hoardings on Pilgrim Street (near Alderman Fenwick's) might make a nice PP.

There was a plan to fill that with a big orange sculpture that looked not unlike Kapoor's red thingy inside the Baltic a few years back. Never happened of course! TBH I think it should be filled with a building but until it may as well be put to good use and grassed over.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by WilfBurnsFan

The Dex's Garage Corner pocket park idea is an excellent one, and would gain in utility if that stretch of New Bridge Street were ever to be made traffic-free.

I recently wrote to the Newcastle NE1 team enquiring about their "Pocket Parks" plans, in the light of our thoughts as to possible locations (eg, opposite City Library) here on this thread.

They replied below, and as I am going to be away a lot over the next three months (though should - hopefully - still be able to "log-on" to SSC from wherever . .) I wonder if anyone else would like to ring Adrian Waddell and pop in to see him?

A copy of his reply to me, is below . . .


Dear Sir,

Sean Bullick has just copied me into an email you sent him regarding plans for Pocket Parks.

I would be very happy to talk you through the plans at some stage.

It might be best if you came into our office when you’re in town.

Do give me a ring on 0191 277 1921, and perhaps we can arrange a date.


Regards,
Adrian Waddell
Operations Manager

Newcastle NE1 Limited
Provincial House
Northumberland Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7DQ

Tel: +44 (0)191 277 1921
Fax: +44 (0)191 277 1923
www.newcastlene1ltd.com

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

I recently wrote to the Newcastle NE1 team enquiring about their "Pocket Parks" plans, in the light of our thoughts as to possible locations (eg, opposite City Library) here on this thread.

They replied below, and as I am going to be away a lot over the next three months (though should - hopefully - still be able to "log-on" to SSC from wherever . .) I wonder if anyone else would like to ring Adrian Waddell and pop in to see him?

A copy of his reply to me, is below . . .


Dear Sir,

Sean Bullick has just copied me into an email you sent him regarding plans for Pocket Parks.

I would be very happy to talk you through the plans at some stage.

It might be best if you came into our office when you’re in town.

Do give me a ring on 0191 277 1921, and perhaps we can arrange a date.


Regards,
Adrian Waddell
Operations Manager

Newcastle NE1 Limited
Provincial House
Northumberland Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7DQ

Tel: +44 (0)191 277 1921
Fax: +44 (0)191 277 1923
www.newcastlene1ltd.com

Wow, I guess you were not expecting that.

How nice it is for someone to actually invite you around to chat about it, rather then the usual "Thanks for your email and concern, we are doing are best in this situation and it is no concern of yours" reply.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

Wow, I guess you were not expecting that.

How nice it is for someone to actually invite you around to chat about it, rather then the usual "Thanks for your email and concern, we are doing are best in this situation and it is no concern of yours" reply.

Yes, it is unusual these days to get a positive response . . hope someone can attend?

Chris, did you ever get a decent response about Haymarket Bus Station (Roof repairs paid by insurance, PLUS the enhancements from City Councils own money to improve it to 'Eldon Square' standards)?

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Yes, it is unusual these days to get a positive response . . hope someone can attend?

Chris, did you ever get a decent response about Haymarket Bus Station (Roof repairs paid by insurance, PLUS the enhancements from City Councils own money to improve it to 'Eldon Square' standards)?

I posted it in the *old thread* a few days later.

Basically they said they are looking at the project, which has had to be put on hold, for no given reason. And they gave the impression that all of it would be upgraded and not just the roof, said something about working with the architects on the plans.


Why you ask now?, I only deleated that email a day or so ago, now I have to search through the *old thread* for it.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

I posted it in the *old thread* a few days later.

Basically they said they are looking at the project, which has had to be put on hold, for no given reason. And they gave the impression that all of it would be upgraded and not just the roof, said something about working with the architects on the plans.


Why you ask now?, I only deleated that email a day or so ago, now I have to search through the *old thread* for it.

Ooops "sorry" . . I can just look it up on the old thread myself. Looking through that MONSTER thread to find little bits of info, reminds me how much BETTER things are now . . .

[Geordie Ahmed]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Ooops "sorry" . . I can just look it up on the old thread myself. Looking through that MONSTER thread to find little bits of info, reminds me how much BETTER things are now . . .

You can always use the search facilty, makes things a little easier

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed

You can always use the search facilty, makes things a little easier

Yes, I use that and it does help (a bit) . . varies between 'subjects' as it depends on what words were used on/in the original thread.

[Geordie Ahmed]

I managed to find that post of bigchrisfgb, here is the link to that post

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...t#post43481220

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Geordie Ahmed

I managed to find that post of bigchrisfgb, here is the link to that post

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showth...t#post43481220

Thanks Geordie and Chris. I have led the conversation a bit "off topic" (this being the BID thread) so I'll leave it now!

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

I recently wrote to the Newcastle NE1 team enquiring about their "Pocket Parks" plans, in the light of our thoughts as to possible locations (eg, opposite City Library) here on this thread.

They replied below, and as I am going to be away a lot over the next three months (though should - hopefully - still be able to "log-on" to SSC from wherever . .) I wonder if anyone else would like to ring Adrian Waddell and pop in to see him?

A copy of his reply to me, is below . . .


Dear Sir,

Sean Bullick has just copied me into an email you sent him regarding plans for Pocket Parks.

I would be very happy to talk you through the plans at some stage.

It might be best if you came into our office when you’re in town.

Do give me a ring on 0191 277 1921, and perhaps we can arrange a date.


Regards,
Adrian Waddell
Operations Manager

Newcastle NE1 Limited
Provincial House
Northumberland Street
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7DQ

Tel: +44 (0)191 277 1921
Fax: +44 (0)191 277 1923
www.newcastlene1ltd.com

Seriously, is anyone interested in meeting this guy?

If not (seeing as it was MY idea to write to him because of my interest in these 'Pocket Parks') I will find the opportunity to meet him, and report back. I will try to discuss the other things they plan to do as well, so if anyone has any questions they would like me (or whoever . . ) to ask, please put them on here.

[bigchrisfgb]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Seriously, is anyone interested in meeting this guy?

If not (seeing as it was MY idea to write to him because of my interest in these 'Pocket Parks') I will find the opportunity to meet him, and report back. I will try to discuss the other things they plan to do as well, so if anyone has any questions they would like me (or whoever . . ) to ask, please put them on here.

I didn't relise that you were asking, I for one am always up to have a more active role. So if you don't want to do it, or you want someone to go with you, then count me in.

[Geordie Ahmed]

from http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business...1140-25341092/

SHOPPERS on Newcastle’s busy Northumberland Street are being entertained this Christmas thanks to business improvement district management company Newcastle NE1.

The company, which has been founded by the city’s business community, has enlisted the services of some of the region’s wackiest street performers to put smiles on the faces of shoppers who may be already flagging at the thought of the festive rush.

Everything from escapologists to stilt-walking jugglers will feature on the hour, every hour, between 5pm and 8pm every weekday night and Saturday night as shops introduce their late-night opening hours.

NE1 said that the idea was to support businesses by delivering a city centre experience that “delights and entertains” the crowds, ensuring that Newcastle delivers an experience that is unrivalled in the region.

The performers, including escapologist Chris Cross, are part of wider measures by NE1 to promote the city centre as the region’s prime shopping location.

Others include the introduction of street rangers to act as advisers to the public and a comprehensive marketing strategy which has included a series of TV advertisements featuring Geordie songsmith Sting.

The company is now looking to expand its team of 10 rangers and 10 rapid response cleaners as well as roll out a number of “pocket parks” in the city centre, which will provide small green spaces for the public to relax in.

Stephen Patterson, commercial manager at Newcastle NE1, said: “We hope that the performers bring a bit of cheer to people as they rush around the shops.

“Big cities are known for their street performers and we want to make sure that Newcastle is up their with the best and maintains its position as the place to come to shop and socialise in the North East.”

Has anyone managed to see any of these performers?

[Chatton11]

Erm, that Chris Cross guy, who appeared on Britain's Got Talent, has been performing on Northumberland Street for years. It's a bit rich the BID team taking the credit for it!

[AngerOfTheNorth]

Hahaha, Chatton's right, that guy's been performing there for years!
Cheeky sods...