Forth Yards, jobs and homes

Plans to create thousands of jobs and homes by opening a new gateway to Newcastle city centre will be considered by councillors.

Aerial view of Forth Yards Area

The Forth Yards area covers 21-hectares of mainly vacant land to the south west of Central Station, with spectacular views across the River Tyne. It represents an opportunity to deliver a landmark entrance into the city centre.

Next week planners will ask the city council’s cabinet to rubber stamp a revised Development Framework that will open-up the site, guide developers, and ensure maximum benefit is derived from future developments to create a vibrant sustainable neighbourhood.

The revised framework will:

bring forward brownfield sites for a mixture of uses, including housing
improve access to the Central Station and wider city centre
better connect it to the city centre with new pedestrian and cycle routes and a range of highway improvements
improve flood management and site drainage in the area
create more open space with impressive river views and protect the environment

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Cabinet Member for Employment and Culture, Cllr Ged Bell, said: “Newcastle is benefiting from significant development.

“Following the successful regeneration of the Stephenson Quarter behind the Central Station, the adjacent area covering Forth Yards is now becoming more attractive to developers to invest in the city.

“As a council we have a responsibility to the city to get the best out of our development sites so we can create jobs, homes and new communities with high-quality transport links and environmental improvements.

“This revised framework reflects changes in planning policies over the last three years and identifies the infrastructure needed to support the area’s regeneration and set high standards for development.”

A report says the Forth Yards area will require investment to improve Pottery Lane and Skinnerburn Road to relieve traffic congestion on Redheugh Bridge and St James’ Boulevard.

A potential Metro line extension from Central Station is also protected if required.

The area could deliver between 1,400 and 2,500 new homes, 40,000 square metres of employment land, and a multi-storey car park to serve Central Station, providing a significant boost to employment, especially in construction.

Cabinet will consider the development framework when it meets on Monday 20 January.

This revised framework reflects changes in planning policies over the last three years and identifies the infrastructure needed to support the area’s regeneration and set high standards for development.