Former Newcastle head of property joins Avison Young
Paul Stewart joins the real estate firm as director working across its national offices and place teams in Newcastle, having spent six years at the council where he worked across some of the city’s most high-profile projects including Helix, Pilgrim Street, Ouseburn, Founder’s Place, and Grainger Market.
Stewart’s role as head of property at Newcastle City Council saw him serve as the city’s largest commercial office landlord, managing a portfolio of more than 2,000 assets and 1m sq ft of space, with an a rent roll of £25m per year and a capital value of circa £450m.
Prior to his tenure at Newcastle City Council, he was head of asset management at igloo Regeneration, leading strategic asset management for a mixed-use portfolio and contributing to major regeneration schemes in Sunderland and Newcastle, including the Siglion investment portfolio and The Malings in Newcastle.
He started his career as a surveyor at Bradley Hall and then GVA Property Consultancy, before spending six years as property manager for the NHS.
His appointment comes as Avison Young has marked 150 years of operating in Newcastle with a new office, moving into 4,400 sq ft on the eighth floor of the Reuben Brothers-owned Wellbar on Gallowgate.
The firm has taken a 10-year lease on the office, which accommodates 30 staff. Avison Young helped Reuben with the acquisition of the building in December 2023.
Gordon Hewling, managing director, Newcastle at Avison Young, said: “We’re very pleased to have Paul join our team in Newcastle, as we celebrate 150 years operating in the North East and as we continue to support some of the region’s most significant schemes, including Helix, Forth Yards and Pilgrim Street.
“With his experience, network and market insight, I am confident that Paul will be a fantastic addition to our team. I’m really looking forward to hitting the ground running with Paul, as we continue to grow our service offering in Newcastle, providing clients with best-in-class advisory support.”
Paul Stewart, director at Avison Young, added: “I’m very much looking forward to bringing my agency, asset management, and regeneration experience to the Avison Young team, which feels like a full-circle moment, as I previously worked at GVA Grimley in Newcastle at the beginning of my career as a surveyor.
“It’s a really exciting time to be working in the region, with a whole host of brilliant schemes coming forward, all of which have the potential to be transformational for the North East. It’s great to be part of a team shaping its future growth and delivering the very best outcomes for our clients and communities across the region.”
