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Application submitted for multi-million pound science hub

Plans to create a 24-acre sustainable urban quarter in Newcastle city centre moved a step closer yesterday as an outline-planning application was submitted.

The new ‘Science Central’ development, which would be located at the former Scottish and Newcastle brewery would encompass business, research, residential, retail and leisure accommodation.

It is estimated that the project would receive an estimated £255m worth of private-sector investment in addition to creating up to 1900 net additional jobs.

Jim McIntyre, CEO of 1NG Newcastle and Gateshead’s development company, said: “Despite tough economic conditions, we are pressing ahead with a clear agenda for Science Central in close collaboration with the project partners, to deliver a site which will attract leading-edge scientific organisations and businesses to a mixed new community.”

Development is already progressing on the site with the construction of a new business school for Newcastle University and the completion of a 160-bed hotel due in the summer of 2011.

Following determination of the planning application now submitted, further construction activity is scheduled to commence early in 2012 with the completion of the next phase some two years later.

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