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'Giant' North East regeneration project revealed

One of the UK’s biggest residential housing renewal projects was revealed last week at the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

A transformation plan that could be worth £1bn was unveiled, setting out a 15- to 20-year vision to revitalise and regenerate Gateshead. It is thought to be the biggest scheme of its type in the country outside London.

More than 70 hectares of land will be redeveloped over about 19 sites, creating 3,000 new homes.

Designer Wayne Hemingway, who has been involved in the Staiths housing project by the riverside, is backing the transformation and said: “If you do good design and work together as a team with a dynamic local authority then you can create real added value and imaginative environments and that’s what’s already happening in the area - from the Staiths to the fabulous cultural projects around Gateshead.”

The transformation will take part mostly in the Bridging NewcastleGateshead pathfinder area. However, a number of sites located in outlying areas will also be included.

Councillor Mick Henry, the leader of Gateshead Council said: “Gateshead is embarking on one of the biggest housing market renewal programmes in the UK. It’s an exciting and challenging time for us.

“We’ve already built a successful reputation on our imaginative and groundbreaking approach to regeneration. We hope that the event will inspire developers to come on board and help us to realise Gateshead’s big vision.”

For further information, go to www.big-gateshead.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .