£10m funding boost for ‘pioneering’ Newcastle Health Innovation Neighbourhood project

A ‘pioneering’ development aimed at tackling health and social challenges and identifying solutions that will benefit people in the North East and beyond was given a funding boost in yesterday’s budget.

The announcement of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority Trailblazer Deal in the budget, which includes £10m towards a Health Innovation Zone, will help move forwards the delivery of Newcastle University’s plans for a Health Innovation Neighbourhood (HIN).

The planned HIN, which will be based on Newcastle’s former General Hospital site, builds on the University’s ‘world-leading’ expertise in healthy ageing and will be the first of its kind in the UK, tackling major health and social challenges with the aim of identifying solutions that can make both local and global impacts.

The aim of HIN’s long-term development is to help people live longer, healthier, and more sustainable lives with a focus on health, the environment, and digital technologies. The government’s multi-million-pound investment announced today will enable the site to be ready for its first phase.

Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Engagement and Place at Newcastle University said: "Newcastle University welcomes the announcement of the North East Mayoral Combined Authority Trailblazer Deal in the budget, which includes £10m towards a Health Innovation Zone.

“This investment will help accelerate the delivery of our planned Health Innovation Neighbourhood (HIN), regenerating the former General Hospital site in the heart of Newcastle’s west end which we are developing with our partners, Newcastle City Council.

"The Health Innovation Neighbourhood (HIN) builds on our world-leading expertise in healthy ageing and will be the first of its kind in the UK, tackling major health and social challenges with the aim of identifying solutions that will benefit people here in the North East and beyond. 

"Our long-term development will include housing, green spaces, healthcare, commercial spaces, and educational facilities that will sit alongside important research and innovation projects. This funding will allow time-critical works to be carried out to ensure the site is ready for our development."

Council Leaders secured the funding for the trailblazing deal as part of the region’s original devolution negotiations. The North East is one of only three regions to secure a bespoke deal, following deals for Greater Manchester and West Midlands last year.

The new powers negotiated by the Leaders of Councils of County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland are designed to reflect the region’s unique geography, with a mixture of urban, rural, and coastal communities.