Newcastle and the North East - Jobs News, Business News, Property Transactions News

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Whatever the morality of the arms industry, without Armstrong we would'nt have had Armstong Park, Elswick Park (and the sadly lost mansion) or most importantly of all Heaton Park & Jesmond Dene... The city would've been a far poorer city without Mr.Armstrong.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Yes, even in its slightly new location, it's official name is still Armstrong Works.

I remember once going in there and once (having gone through security and been told where to park, and even 'in which direction' to park!) I was happily driving down a narrow 'single' track between the fence and the building to go round the back, when a vehicle came round the corner going in the opposite direction towards me. One of us had to give way and as I was nearly two thirds of the way down, it was obviously going to be them that had to reverse.

However, I rather quickly realised that in fact it was going to have to be ME, as the vehicle coming in the other direction was a bl**dy great big TANK!

Discretion, as they say, is . . . . . .

I have now posted some photos of the old place in the Historic Newcastle thread . .

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpo...&postcount=134

I'm still looking for an 'aerial photo' of the old Elswick Works. I know I have one somewhere but cannot find it just now, but if anyone else has one for the Historic Photos thread?

[johnnypd]

263 jobs face axe at Twinings North Shields tea factory

HUNDREDS of Tyneside jobs are set to be axed as tea-maker Twinings looks to move production to Poland.

The company’s 263 staff in North Shields have been told they are likely to lose their livelihoods after company bosses decided to refocus on the Eastern European and global markets.

Workers were yesterday called to a meeting in Gosforth to be told that Twinings could potentially close the entire site by September 2011, with just a handful of jobs kept at another factory in Andover, Hampshire.

Workers in North Shields repackage tea and sell it abroad, but company bosses insist the realities of their business model leave them with no choice but to make changes.

The firm is growing its markets in Eastern Europe and South East Asia and said it does not make economic sense to import tea many thousands of miles.

But last night union bosses said the North Shields factory was “very productive” and accused company management of putting profit before job security.

Usdaw union representative Jayne Shotton said the company was opening a new factory in Poland which would take jobs from Tyneside.

Ms Shotton said: “Our jobs are going to Poland and China, that’s what we know.

“It is extremely disappointing that a company which proudly calls itself Twinings of London is now moving work to Poland.

“We will be taking steps to try and fight this, because this is a very productive workforce that does not deserve to be pushed aside.”

With no factory yet built for the company in Poland bosses may yet benefit from various European grant schemes.

[Seamaster]

The Poles "get on their bike", why shouldn't the British?

[BigLebowski]

Originally Posted by Seamaster

The Poles "get on their bike", why shouldn't the British?

How do you mean? Was that referencing Tebbit's clarion call to the nations unemployed in the 80s?! Im not sure that really applies to 300 people who already have jobs and have been told their being replaced by oversees facilities with exponentially cheaper costs. And in the run up to christmas too, Twinings you heartless bastards!

Does anyone else think too many companies are using this 'economic downturn' as an excuse to cut costs across the board, shedding jobs along the way? I refuse to believe the banking crisis and credit freeze has really caused people to switch to cheaper tea brands on such a scale to force these companies overseas....

[johnnypd]

interesting news about Baltic Place, specifically the bolded segment which could see more building work down there in the next few years -

North stars at Baltic Place scheme

02.10.09

While Newcastle’s office agents contemplate the lack of stock in Newcastle, a joint venture between City & Northern and Robertson is celebrating the first letting at its Baltic Place scheme on Gateshead Quays

Liability insurer the North of England Protecting & Indemnity Association has taken 26,500 sq ft at around £18/sq ft.

The 131,000 sq ft office scheme is the first commercial development to be completed at Gateshead Quays this year.

The fact North has chosen to take a short-term lease demonstrates that occupiers are pausing before they commit to the north-east.

However, Stuart Hopley, development manager at Robertson, remains confident.

“The building is the start of some key sites coming forward on Gateshead Quays, and we already have another two lettings in solicitors’ hands.”

If the two further lettings complete, it will mean that 30% of the building is let within the first three months of its completion, says Hopley.

There is potential for 250,000 sq ft of further office space at the site next to Baltic Quays, which is part of Robertson’s portfolio, but a prelet will need to be secured before any building work begins.

This is in addition to the forthcoming McAleer & Rushe scheme in front of Baltic Quays, which has planning permission for a 125-bed hotel and flats and is set to begin next year.

Read more: http://www.propertyweek.com/story.as...#ixzz0W3BBEKNJ

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by johnnypd

interesting news about Baltic Place, specifically the bolded segment which could see more building work down there in the next few years -

North stars at Baltic Place scheme

02.10.09

While Newcastle’s office agents contemplate the lack of stock in Newcastle, a joint venture between City & Northern and Robertson is celebrating the first letting at its Baltic Place scheme on Gateshead Quays

Liability insurer the North of England Protecting & Indemnity Association has taken 26,500 sq ft at around £18/sq ft.

The 131,000 sq ft office scheme is the first commercial development to be completed at Gateshead Quays this year.

The fact North has chosen to take a short-term lease demonstrates that occupiers are pausing before they commit to the north-east.

However, Stuart Hopley, development manager at Robertson, remains confident.

“The building is the start of some key sites coming forward on Gateshead Quays, and we already have another two lettings in solicitors’ hands.”

If the two further lettings complete, it will mean that 30% of the building is let within the first three months of its completion, says Hopley.

There is potential for 250,000 sq ft of further office space at the site next to Baltic Quays, which is part of Robertson’s portfolio, but a prelet will need to be secured before any building work begins.

This is in addition to the forthcoming McAleer & Rushe scheme in front of Baltic Quays, which has planning permission for a 125-bed hotel and flats and is set to begin next year.

Read more: http://www.propertyweek.com/story.as...#ixzz0W3BBEKNJ

Is there a Project Thread for this? There is a thread for "Baltic Business Quarter", but I am starting to get confused with all these Baltic's!

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by Newcastle Historian

Is there a Project Thread for this? There is a thread for "Baltic Business Quarter", but I am starting to get confused with all these Baltic's!

baltic place is entirely separate - developed by city & northern and robertson, designed by Waring Netts. The building was finished recently and they had an 'opening party' in the last month or so. The developers had planned for a smaller hotel/office building to be built alongside the two office blocks constructed so far but, if they're looking at 250,000sq ft of offices they must've bought even more adjacent land.

[johnnypd]

Don't think I have reported this yet, but this large site sits between the residential scheme known as St James Village and the Baltic Business Quarter, so this will be a big chance to link those two schemes together.

Gateshead yard’s freight changes

09.10.09

British Railways Board (Residuary) has sold a derelict site in Gateshead to Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council in the biggest residential transaction in the area this year

The council, with the Homes and Communities Agency and Bridging Newcastle Gateshead has bought the 7.4 acre site at the former Central Gateshead freight depot on Park Road. Lambert Smith Hampton advised BRB (Residuary); GVA Lamb & Edge advised the council.

Read more: http://www.propertyweek.com/story.as...#ixzz0W6gn6uMP

[bigchrisfgb]

Does that now put Gateshead out of the running of building the new trains for the ECML?

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by bigchrisfgb

Does that now put Gateshead out of the running of building the new trains for the ECML?

i believe that is a different site altogether, down by the team valley. this site is right here:

[TownPlanningNE]

Article today...

TWO Newcastle office block investment sales to rich private individuals indicate the bottom of the commercial property market may have been reached - and there are now signs that values are moving up with institutional investors returning to the North East market.

Number 1 St James Gate, the home of Watson Burton law firm and Baker Tilly accountants, and St Anne’s Wharf on Newcastle Quayside, the home of Dickinson Dees, have changed hands in recent weeks.

Both properties went for around £15m with these values being well below the peak of two years ago when they would have fetched around £22m.

Both office complexes were sold for cash to high-net-worth individuals from outside the region and were handled by Richard Turner, investment director of property agents DTZ in Newcastle.

He said: "Both properties have the same characteristics in that they have secured tenants on long-term leases.

"Investors are coming back into the market, but the foremost thing on their minds is security and both of these deals represent risk-free investments."

Mr Turner believes values on deals such as these two are now around 10% up from where they fell to earlier in the year.

He also says that high-net-worth individuals, who were the first back into the market in the spring, are now being forced out by the institutional investors such as the pension funds.

He added: "Values are on their way back up. Values always overshoot on the way down and on the way up.

"There were very few buyers at the start of the year, then we saw the high-net-worth individuals return and this put the floor into the market and now the institutions have come back.

"There is now a lot of interest in securing quality office assets in Newcastle."

David Griffiths, a director at niche North East Investment firm Harland Griffiths, agrees.

He said: "Institutions have really come on hot and heavy and they have large sums of money to spend across the country."

Harland Griffiths says it is close to securing a cash purchase of a Newcastle office block to a high-net-worth individual and is in discussions over two dozen more investment opportunities.

Mr Turner added: "There is a huge shortage of investment stock of this quality and this is now beginning to push prices up."

He went on to say that yields on the two recently completed deals had fallen from 8.4% to 7.4%.

http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/commerci...1140-25142622/

[TownPlanningNE]

Baltic Place attracts trio of high-profile tenants
A TRIO of high profile new tenants have exchanged contracts on Baltic Place - Gateshead's landmark office building - within the last week.

Global banking group Santander has signed a 10-year lease for 4,200 sq ft to house its corporate banking department on the ninth floor of the West tower on Gateshead’s Quayside.

Meanwhile, 1NG, NewcastleGateshead’s development company, and NGI, the destination marketing agency for NewcastleGateshead, currently located at Central Square South have officially signed up for 9,500 sq ft for 10 years on level nine of the adjoining East tower.

The news comes just a month after North of England P&I took a three-year lease for floors three to six in the Western tower of the development, totalling 26,500 sq ft to house its 200 staff.

These latest tenants mean 40,000 sq ft – or 30% – of Baltic Place, which has been brought out of the ground by South Shore Developments, a joint venture partnership between Robertson Group and City and Northern, has now been taken.

As a result, by February 2010 there will be more than 320 people working in the building, located on South Shore Road next door to the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.

Santander is currently based at Rotterdam House on Newcastle’s Quayside and will move its 30 staff across the water in December this year.

Robertson development manager Stuart Hopley said: "We are absolutely delighted that one of the world’s largest banking groups and Newcastle- Gateshead’s two agencies have decided to make Baltic Place their new home."

Head of Santander Corporate Banking, Steve Pateman, said: "Baltic Place has been finished to a very high standard, however, what really appealed to us was that we were able to put our own stamp on it and add customer interview areas and a boardroom, during the fit-out stage."

Jim McIntyre, 1NG chief executive, said: "We are delighted to be moving to Baltic Place which puts us at the heart of the Gateshead Quays’ development."

NewcastleGateshead Initiative chief executive Andrew Dixon said: "The major cultural regeneration on the south banks of the Tyne over the past 10 years has created a stunning panoramic vista and our move to the new Baltic Place offices opens an exciting new chapter in Newcastle- Gateshead’s renaissance."

Watson Burton acted for South Shore Developments in the agreements for lease for the Santander, NGI and 1NG lettings.

The agents behind the scheme are the Newcastle offices of agents DTZ and GVA Grimley and London agent Jones Lang LaSalle.

http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/commerci...1140-25196837/

[TownPlanningNE]

Deloitte moving from Grey Street to the Quayside
THE North East base of one of the big four accountancy firms is moving from Newcastle's Grey Street to the Quayside, following a host of other big names quitting the city's premier address in recent years.

While still regarded as the city address with the most cachet, the attraction of Grey Street amongst the financial and professional services community is on the wane.

With competitively priced and easily managed Grade A office space available elsewhere in the city many firms are opting to leave Grey Street for offices on the edge of the city’s core.

Aidan Baker, director of agency at BNP Paribas Real Estate, who handled the Deloitte move to Trinity Gardens, said: "Before Deloitte the three most recent departures to the Quayside from Grey Street were the Royal Bank of Scotland, Coutts and Faber Maunsell. This is a reflection on the availability of modern open-plan space at the Quayside which is not readily available on the restricted floorplates developed behind the listed frontages in Grey Street.

"The last 20 or so years have seen major professionals locate at Quayside, such as law firms Dickinson Dees and Ward Hadaway for the same reason."

Deloitte has acquired the entire third floor at One Trinity Gardens which has a floorspace of 22,500 sq ft.

It is leaving Gainsborough House, Grey Street where it had been for the last 15 years. The lease at Trinity Gardens runs from 2005 for 15 years. Rental terms are confidential.

Paul Williamson, senior partner at Deloitte’s Newcastle office said: "We are delighted to have had the opportunity to secure space in one of the city’s most prestigious buildings.

"It will provide us with an excellent working environment and the platform to continue our growth in the local market as a leading professional services firm."

Mr Baker added: "The acquisition of space at Trinity Gardens has concluded an extensive search of the market and provides space within one of the best office buildings in Newcastle.

"Deloitte will join a stellar line-up of tenants in the Crown Estates building including Dickinson Dees, RBS, St James Place and Aecom."

Ian Parker director of agency at property agents GVA Grimley in Newcastle, said: "Firms need more efficient, larger floor spaces and Grey Street does not have that kind of offering."

Grey Street rents are around £20 per sq ft compared to around £23 in some of the city’s newer developments.

http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/commerci...1140-25196128/

[Newcastle Historian]

NEWCASTLE CENTRE FOR LIFE BRINGS BUSINESS TO THE NORTH EAST
Andrew Mernin, Journal NE Business, 11th November 2009.

[johnnypd]

Newcastle firm Houghton International plan to double in size

Nov 25 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal
Workers at Houghton International

ENGINEERING firm Houghton International has laid out plans to more than double the size of its Tyneside headquarters and create 40 jobs as it looks to grow its annual turnover by £2m to £5m.

The company, based in Walker, Newcastle, has taken on a 10,000sqft warehouse close to its current 15,000sqft site and, in the next 18 months, expects to invest in a second 10,000sqft facility.
Michael Mitten MD of Houghton International

The expansion follows a period of strong growth at home and abroad, which was extended last week with its first contract in Canada. The firm has employed an agent in Canada to help grow the North American market, and also has a man in Dubai to sniff out deals across the Gulf region.

Houghton’s new addition on Walker Riverside will double production of its rail traction motor repairs business, and also enable it to service Tyneside’s emerging renewable energy market.

Managing director Michael Mitten said: “We’ve had two record years of sales growth and our turnover is set to break the £3m mark this year, with aspirations to grow to £5m in the next two years.

“While we’re realistic about the current economy, we’re optimistic about our future as our board set a clear strategy some years ago to reduce our risk exposure to economic cycles.

“We’ve continued to grow steadily and our core strategy has seen us outperform other companies in our sector.”

Mr Mitten has just returned from a successful sales mission to Canada, where he helped to broker a deal to supply parts to a repair firm.

He now sees the Middle East and Canada – where the company has a pipeline of inquiries worth around £250,000 – as two potentially important regions for the firm in the future.

He said: “People in Canada were a little bit [reluctant to do business with us] because they didn’t know who we were. I’ve always had the philosophy that if you fly around the world to see someone, they sit up and take notice. They know that we want their business and that gives them confidence.”

Houghton was originally founded in 1984 in Houghton-le-Spring, moving to larger premises in South Shields in 1990 to accommodate an increase in both employees and orders, and moving to Walker Riverside in 1998.

Over the years, the company has gained over 400 customers and exports to over 20 countries, including Greece, Canada, the Middle East, Hong Kong, Nigeria, Norway and the USA.

http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business...1140-25245143/

[TownPlanningNE]

Not sure which is the best thread to put this in, it's just a general piece of property news. Anyway work has been on going at 7-9 Gallowgate and it is being turned into the new premises for International House Newcastle, which is moving from it's current location at 14-18 Stowell Street. If I remember correctly it is quite a historic building, not sure if it had been in use recently?

[TownPlanningNE]

Expansion plans for Gordon Brown Associates revealed
LAW firm Gordon Brown Associates is to open a second office in Newcastle and is closing in on a merger with a North East firm that would add 15 staff to its ranks.

The company, headquartered in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, has also taken on eight members of staff on Tyneside who will handle a drive to generate half of its annual revenue from the internet within five years.

The firm has identified a new 3,000sqft office near Newcastle’s new Central Library to add to its sites on the city’s Mosley Street, and in Sunderland, Houghton-le-Spring, County Durham and Low Fell, Gateshead.

Last year, it cut its 95-strong workforce to 74, due largely to the knock-on effect of the collapse in the property market.

However, it has since built its staff levels back up to 85 as it witnesses an increase in property-related business from cash buyers snapping up bargains in the market.

Senior partner Gordon Brown said: “We are delighted to welcome both our new staff and new clients to the firm. We have been well-managed through the credit crunch and we are now positioning for the upturn by investing in staff, new premises in Newcastle and ICT.”

Geoff Hall, head of residential conveyancing, said: “The market is improving and the new team gives us complimentary new skills capacity.”

http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business...1140-25299372/

[TownPlanningNE]

£8m loan gives us room to grow says boss Senior
NORTH East leisure company boss Bob Senior has secured an £8m loan agreement and is now looking to create a chain of Fat Buddha Asian restaurants and create 180 jobs.

Mr Senior, who heads Newcastle-based Utopian Leisure, has renegotiated the terms of his loan with Barclays after breaching banking covenants last year and is now looking to open restaurants in Newcastle, Leeds and Harrogate.

....

http://www.nebusiness.co.uk/business...1140-25302960/

[johnnypd]

Originally Posted by TownPlanningNE

Not sure which is the best thread to put this in, it's just a general piece of property news. Anyway work has been on going at 7-9 Gallowgate and it is being turned into the new premises for International House Newcastle, which is moving from it's current location at 14-18 Stowell Street. If I remember correctly it is quite a historic building, not sure if it had been in use recently?

Yes there were guys up on a crane doing some work all afternoon on the building, messing around with a sign. didnt get much of a close look though.