Mayor unveils arena backing in £104 million plan

A regeneration boss has announced a record £104 million funding package to boost the North East’s creative industries through new venues, film studios and cultural events.

The plan, unveiled by North East mayor Kim McGuinness, aims to accelerate growth in the region’s creative economy while supporting infrastructure, grassroots venues and career opportunities.

Central to the programme is £24 million earmarked to prepare the Gateshead Quays site for a new large-scale arena on the banks of the River Tyne. 

The proposed venue, designed to hold between 12,500 and 15,000 people, aims to attract international music acts and compete with arenas in cities such as Manchester, Glasgow and London.

Funding will enable Gateshead Council to begin enabling works on the site, including infrastructure for the arena, a new public performance square beside The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and a green linear park linking the riverside with the Baltic Quarter.

The development represents the first scheme within the Newcastle-Gateshead Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ), established last year to accelerate regeneration across the area.

The investment will also help progress the search for an operator for the venue, with market research highlighting strong interest from several leading arena operators.

Mayor McGuinness said: “We’re one step closer to bringing the biggest bands to the North East with a new arena at Gateshead Quays. 

“This is a really exciting step forward for this project which will mean local people can enjoy more world-class shows right here on their doorstep. 

“Our region is hugely proud of our home-grown talent like Sam Fender and Jade Thirlwall, but we need a modern arena to bring more big names to the North East. 

“Our funding will get the site ready for the development, so people will be able to see enabling works start on-site soon. 

“We’re speeding up developments that benefit local people and it would be amazing to see the world’s biggest bands playing on the banks of the Tyne in the near future.”

Councillor Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, added: “Gateshead people are at the heart of everything we’re building for the future. 

“The huge cash boost for Gateshead Quays is not just about preparing a site – it’s about laying the foundations for a world-class arena that will put Gateshead on the map and spark new energy, confidence and opportunity across our region.

“Residents have waited a long time to see momentum, and this funding means that works will turn ambition into visible, tangible progress.

“Gateshead deserves cultural spaces that inspire, places that bring people together and investment that creates jobs and opportunities for our people. 

“This project is a major part of delivering that future, and it reflects the ambition, pride and potential of Gateshead.”

Alongside the Gateshead project, the investment package includes more than £38 million to develop Crown Works Studios in Sunderland, which is set to become one of the largest film studio complexes in the North of England.

Construction of the first phase of Crown Works is expected to begin this summer, creating 125,000sq ft of flexible production space through a new purpose-built studio and the redevelopment of the former Doxford Printworks site on the banks of the River Wear.

The site of the Crown Works Studios  on the south bank of the River Wear in the Pallion area of Sunderland, adjacent to the Northern Spire Bridge

Councillor Michael Mordey, Sunderland City Council leader, added: “We’re getting this done – for the people of Sunderland and the North East.  

“This is a huge moment, as we turn a transformational vision into reality. 

“I am thrilled that the North East mayor is backing us in our bid to unlock the potential of Crown Works Growth Zone and establish Sunderland as a TV and film production hub, an opportunity that will unlock significant benefits for the region’s people and businesses.  

“Sunderland has led from the front and made the case strongly for support to realise our vision.  

“This backing is the product of strong and positive partnership-working between local, regional and national government, with all of us working in lockstep to deliver a game-changing development for Sunderland, the North East, and for UK Plc. 

“From joiners, electricians and painter and decorators, who will create sets for TV and film, to data wranglers and digital creators, and forklift drivers to sound and lighting engineers, this studio development will bring with it opportunities for all kinds of people and professions. 

“This is about unleashing the immense potential of our region.”

Alison Gwynn, chief executive of North East Screen, the screen development agency for the North East, added: “The evidence is clear: the North East has undergone a remarkable shift in TV and film production, and we’re now firmly on the map as a serious, competitive alternative to established hubs elsewhere in the UK.

“What sets our region apart is what we have to offer: stunning coastlines, dramatic countryside, vibrant cities, characterful rural communities, and talented crew. It’s all here, and productions know it. 

“We’re also seeing more and more skilled people choosing to build their careers here, which is exactly what the industry needs to thrive.

“Crown Works is a game-changing opportunity for our region, and I’m absolutely delighted to see this level of backing behind it. 

“We’re already talking to streamers and major producers who are excited about the potential of this space when it opens, and this investment sends a powerful signal that the North East is ready to deliver.”

The wider funding programme also includes support for small music venues, a regional programme of festivals and events, as well as financial backing for local creatives and entrepreneurs building careers in the sector.

Together, the investments are designed to strengthen the region’s cultural infrastructure, support creative talent and position the North East as a major destination for film, music and cultural events in the UK.

Mayor McGuinness added: “We’ve heard leading voices from Sam to Jade talk about their pride in their North East roots and the huge barriers working class young people from the north face when trying to make it in music and film.

“I said in my manifesto I’d change that, and here’s the next big step - £104 million backing both the inspirational big venues to the vital local space need for your first gig. 

“Last week we announced the skills funding to help you learn on the job, this week we’re backing more venues.

“If you have a creative dream, you don’t need London to succeed. 

“We’ll prove that.”

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