The takeover of Newcastle United football club after two years of stop-start diplomacy has finally happened and the timing couldn't be better. The city is poised for a dramatic transformation both at the club and on the streets.
Plans are afoot to make the whole of Newcastle city centre more appealing for people to live’ work’ and visit and now at its heart St James’ Park will create an even greater attraction for football supporters nationally and internationally.
Now that St James’ Park has the funds and the wherewithal to transform the fortunes of the team and the club’ the excitement and positivity is infectious. Plans to make the city more peoplefocused seem more relevant and timely in light of the club news. Creating new pedestrian-priority areas by changing bus routes’ taxi ranks’ deliveries and on street parking on some of the city’s busiest and most notable streets will all make it easier for people to move around the city. All the changes are part of Newcastle City Council’s City Centre Transformation Programme (CCTP). The overall aim of the programme is to create a cleaner’ greener city centre which will benefit the people of Newcastle now and for years to come.
At the moment’ the central streets of Newcastle are not as welcoming as they could be and space that could be used for people is dominated by traffic. The Council has outlined a vision for the city that would use space differently’ introducing more greenery into the city’ connecting adjacent streets with spaces to stop and socialise. The plans are designed to see more emphasis on biodiversity and greenery’ with trees’ planting and public spaces much more prominent.
The changes’ like the NUFC takeover’ have been a long time coming. NE1 is delighted that the council has been brave and visionary in its plans and we are proud that we have played our part in helping to shape the programme working with the city’s businesses and the city council over the past ten years.
Collectively’ we started looking at the issues affecting Newcastle and what was needed back in 2011. The key themes identified in this work form the foundation of the plans now being progressed in the City Centre Transformation Programme. We are now working hand in glove with the Council and with businesses to help formulate and implement the plans.
The changes have the potential to be transformational’ especially as they are happening at the same time as the major’ and long awaited redevelopment of East Pilgrim Street and the takeover of Newcastle United by new owners who have been clear in their aims to invest in the club and the city. Collectively this work and investment will be monumental’ and it is not overstating the case to say that it could have the same impact on Newcastle as previous chapters in the city’s history including the period of change championed by Richard Grainger in the 19th Century and T. Dan Smith in the 1960s. Now is a pivotal and exciting time for Newcastle.
The Pilgrim Street development alone has the capacity to create in the region of 10’000 jobs’ which would result in a huge increase in footfall on surrounding streets. Northumberland Street which would be deluged by these new workers currently averages 40’000 footfall visits per day. With 10’000 extra people flowing in and out of Pilgrim Street it is essential that the retail core doesn’t just cope but caters well for these people and what they want from the city. The key is to build greater capacity for pedestrians in the heart of the city to create a safe and pleasant environment for people to work’ shop and enjoy their leisure time including the tens of thousands of football supporters visiting St James’ Park.Without these proposed changes’ the city would be at risk of stagnating and falling behind our competitors.
Planning for the future is crucial’ and the consultation for Blackett Street and the surrounding area proposes changes that give pedestrians priority in key areas of the city’ creates new civic spaces and frees up existing ones. A new area’ the Pilgrim Street Quarter’ will be created on Northumberland Street as it intersects with Pilgrim Street’ and Old Eldon Square will be reinvigorated. In addition’ when vehicles are removed the pollution is too’ improving the quality of the space and the experience for residents’ workers and visitors alike. Creating new spaces will help us deliver a cosmopolitan city centre experience that customers both demand and expect’ and to provide flexible spaces that can be used for a range of events and activities.
Over the past month we have been delighted to welcome back over 50’000 students into Newcastle’ their presence is hugely important for the local economy and the vibrancy of the city. It is essential that we continue to evolve and change to reflect the changing wants and needs of the whole community including residents’ businesses’ students’ and visitors. The council has made a sterling effort in difficult times to secure funding to carry out the first phase of the £50m development plans. This investment is crucial for the city centre’s redevelopment and long-term survival. And now’ the £350 million takeover of St James’ Park will be transformational for the club and the city with its impact resonating far beyond the confines of St James’ Park. We have all seen the economic benefits delivered in other cities from similar takeovers and the dramatic uplifts in inward investment in the cities and wider region. We all stand to benefit from the major financial investment in Newcastle United’ a club at the heart of our city.
Exciting times lie ahead for the football club and the city and we want to capitalise on this excitement to transform Newcastle. It is the responsibility of each generation to leave their part of the world in a better place for the next generation’ this is our opportunity!!
