Fresh image revealed for Eldon Square overhaul

Rooftop space at the former Debenham store will play a large part of the Newcastle shopping centre’s reinvention.

In late November, plans were announced for the reworking of the ex-department store space as part of a two-pronged redevelopment, which will also include a 120,000 sq ft family leisure attraction within the footprint of ther former Eldon Leisure Centre.

Images used at a public consultation event highlight how the rooftop space could be used, with ther possibility of different outdoor lounges, and an indoor rooftop ‘music box’ venue

The departure of Debenhams, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins and others has left Eldon Square with more than 200,000 sq ft of unused retail floorspace.

Work has already started to bring a “major retail brand” to the lower two floors of the former Debenhams space on St Andrews Way.

Accounting for 62,500 sq ft, it was reported in early October that legal agreements were under way.

At top floor level will be a new destination attraction offering “a unique blend of culture, art, entertainment, street food and beverages, with an internal events space” – this is the space shown in the cutaway part on the left hand side of the above image.

In the other part of the scheme, the former Eldon Leisure Centre, much of which has lain empty since 2020, will join with the upper mall level to the south of Blackett Street to create a suitable large format space to house a facility likely to include the likes of gaming, digital darts, VR, crazy golf and electric karting. This will combine with F&B and live entertainment.

External changes are proposed to modernise the Blackett Street frontage, to introduce a terrace garden overlooking Old Eldon Square and provide a separate ground floor entrance for the leisure operator.

Eldon Square is now preparing planning applications for the twin projects. The consultation page is still open online.