ECF to progress Gateshead’s Baltic Quarter
A pre-development agreement has been signed between ECF – made up of Muse, Homes England, and L&G – and Gateshead Council for a 1,600-home neighbourhood, combining residential, commercial, and public realm on the prime Tyneside site.
The Baltic Quarter is a key part of Gateshead’s regeneration strategy, launched last September, and is already home to a business quarter, Gateshead College Campus, and the Northern Design Centre.
ECF and the council will now look at how to fund and deliver the neighbourhood in a way that works alongside the adjacent business community.
As well as homes, shops, restaurants, and other leisure facilities will be planned in, with the aim of bringing more people into the area and supporting the attraction and retention of talent across Newcastle and Gateshead.
This follows the recent opening of a 1,000-space car park, which has capacity to charge hundreds of electric vehicles in the future.
The area’s sustainability credentials are further strengthened by the District Energy Network, which supplies current and future buildings with power and heat from the UK’s largest urban solar farm and naturally warmed mine water.
Cllr Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, said: “Gateshead has always been a place of strength, pride and ambition – a place that gets things done, and can deliver regeneration as we did with the Glasshouse (Sage Gateshead) and BALTIC 25 years ago.
“This new agreement, working with a respected industry partner like Muse and ECF is testament to that and demonstrates our proactive approach to regenerating our neighbourhoods for the future.
“The Baltic Quarter is a key project for the Council and one we believe can have a transformational impact on the whole of the borough.
“The site offers the potential to deliver over 1,600 new homes, both affordable and for market sale, new office space for businesses, as well as high quality public spaces and improved links with nearby neighbourhoods, our town centre and the Quays.
“We believe it will be a fantastic shop-window for Gateshead, attracting potential future investors.”
Sir Michael Lyons, chair of ECF, added: “The Baltic Quarter already has a vibrant community and we look forward to working with Gateshead Council to bring their wider vision for the area to life.
“Following the signing of the Pre-Development Agreement, we will now work with the council and other stakeholders to shape the plans to support the delivery of this exciting opportunity.
“Gateshead Council’s wider regeneration vision is a perfect example of how UK towns and cities can use their industrial heritage to support not just today’s plans but tomorrow’s ambitions, and the generations to come.”
The Pre-Development Agreement was made possible through the Developer-Led Framework which Pagabo manages on behalf of Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust.
Jonathan Parker, development director at Pagabo, said: “This appointment demonstrates how a robust and transparent procurement process can support ambitious regeneration outcomes.
“By using The Developer Led Framework, Gateshead Council was able to move at pace while maintaining flexibility, certainty, and compliance, ensuring the right development partner was selected to help realise the long-term vision for the Baltic Quarter.”
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