By Dominic Echlin, Director, Narro Newcastle
It’s now been six months since we settled into our new home at The Cluny Works, and the move has already proven to be an important milestone in the development of our Newcastle office.
Looking back, the decision to relocate was very much about creating room to grow, not just in numbers, but in the kind of work we can deliver and the relationships we can build. We can also welcome clients and partners into an environment that truly reflects how we work at Narro.
Since our move, we have seen increased enquiries and contact with existing colleagues and clients, all leading to some exciting project opportunities. As we approach the fourth anniversary of opening the Newcastle office in March, I find myself reflecting on how far we’ve come. When we first opened our doors in 2022, our goal was to bring Narro’s long-established strengths in conservation engineering, sustainability, and thoughtful design to the North East. Four years on, those priorities remain firmly at the centre of our work, but the scale and ambition of the projects we’re now delivering has grown significantly.
Our focus on conservation continues to deepen, with several new surveys, repair schemes, and adaptive reuse projects now progressing across the region. Working with historic buildings is always a privilege, and being based in an area as rich in heritage as the North East means there is no shortage of opportunities to contribute to the preservation of the region’s architectural legacy. The experience we’ve gained from projects such as the former Alnwick railway station and Bamburgh Castle’s Walled Garden has positioned us well to support clients looking to sensitively breathe new life into important structures.
Alongside this, our structural engineering work in the domestic residential sector continues to grow, with recently completed projects including the new-build Tynemouth House and the refurbishment and extension of Rydal Mount, further demonstrating our ability to deliver thoughtful, robust design solutions across a range of building types.
Alongside our conservation work, sustainability has become an increasingly prominent driver – not only for our clients, but also for us. It’s something our team feel very passionate about, and the demand for lowcarbon design, responsible material use, and longterm performance is clearer than ever. Our team has been investing heavily in developing deeper expertise in sustainable engineering strategies, and I’m particularly encouraged by the growing number of schemes where we’re able to adopt Passivehouse principles. Whether we’re working on retrofits, residential developments, or community buildings, the appetite for rigorous energy efficiency and fabric-first design continues to grow.
The larger space at The Cluny Works has also strengthened our ability to collaborate closely with architectural practices, developers, and fellow consultants. Being embedded in the creative environment of Ouseburn has brought a new energy to the team, and we’ve found ourselves working alongside some fantastic partners on projects that champion both innovation and environmental responsibility.
As we look ahead to 2026, I’m incredibly proud of what the team has achieved, and even more excited about what’s to come. The North East has embraced us from day one, and our aim remains the same: to deliver excellent engineering solutions that are thoughtful, sustainable, and deeply respectful of the buildings and landscapes we work with. We are looking forward to the next chapter for Narro in Newcastle.
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