Member Article

Architects appointed to transform Northumberland Street into ‘world class leisure destination’

Newcastle Council is pushing ahead with long-awaited plans to modernise and upgrade Northumberland Street.

In a bid to elevate the city’s peak shopping area as a top European retail and leisure destination, the council has appointed Cushman & Wakefield and FaulknerBrowns Architects to develop and implement a strategy intended to stimulate the Street as a leading retail hub.

The council, along with NE1, is already investing in the city centre at East Pilgrim Street, Stephenson Quarter and Science Central to drive the city’s economic growth and attractiveness to inward investors and businesses.

With online sales rising and high street shopping in decline, interventions to boost footfall in the Northumberland Street have stood as a high priority of the council’s for some time.

Cllr Ged Bell, Cabinet Member for Investment and Development at Newcastle City Council, commented: “This is an essential piece in the jigsaw that will help inform and shape our ambition to transform Northumberland Street into a world-class shopping and leisure destination.

“Cushman & Wakefield and FaulknerBrowns both have extensive expertise in the retail and commercial sectors, and we look forward to the findings that will help drive improvements, stimulate investment, grow the city’s economy and create employment opportunities.”

John Percy, Partner and Head of Cushman & Wakefield’s Retail Development Team, says: “It is rare to have such a great opportunity to help develop and implement a strategy to drive the performance of this unique part of this striking city and we are thrilled to have been appointed.

“High street shopping is changing, and the scale of commitment and ambition to keep Northumberland Street at the heart of Newcastle’s commercial landscape is clearly presenting an opportunity in the city.”

Ben Pretty at Cushman & Wakefield, who is project managing the commission, supported this said: “The Northumberland Street area can capitalise upon and complement the distinctive and diverse commercial and economic asset base and offer of the wider city. We are very excited to be working with NCC and NE1 on this flagship opportunity.”

Tania Love, Director at FaulknerBrowns, added: “It is a privilege to be contributing to such a significant and exciting opportunity right on our doorstep.

“Building on the success of our refurbishment of Monument Mall, we look forward to bringing our national and international experience of sustainable place-making in retail environments to our own city centre, strengthening Newcastle’s historical, cultural and retail offer and improving connectivity to other parts of the city.”