Igloo submits Orchard Yard plans
Part of the wider Founders Place regeneratin scheme in Newcastle centre, the 79-home neighbourhood is being delivered in partnership with the council in the historic Stephenson Quarter.
Located next to Newcastle Central Station on land forming part of the former Stephenson Works, the proposals would transform the long-derelict Orchard Yard site into a mixed residential neighbourhood while restoring several historic industrial buildings.
Designed by Newcastle-based architects FaulknerBrowns, the scheme includes a mix of apartments, duplexes and family homes, as well as just under 500 sq ft of ground-floor commercial space.
The site, once home to the Stephenson Engineering Manufactory, has accommodated a variety of industrial uses over the years before falling into disrepair. Historic buildings including the Machine Shop and Smith’s Shop are currently derelict and inaccessible.
The proposals incorporate new green spaces, including planted streets and shared gardens, alongside sustainable drainage features designed to manage rainfall and enhance biodiversity.
They also seek to reinstate historic routes through the site by reopening South Street, Orchard Street and Sussex Street, improving pedestrian connections to Newcastle Central Station and the wider city centre.
The planning submission follows a programme of public consultation held in April, before the application was finalised.
The application comes as momentum continues across the wider Founders Place development. The nearby 32,000 sq ft Pattern Shop was restored and opened in 2024 as the headquarters of Atom Bank, accommodating around 600 employees.
Work is also progressing on proposals for One Founders Place and the future restoration of the historic Coppersmiths Shop as the regeneration of Stephenson Quarter continues.
Insiyah Khushnood, development director at igloo, said: “Orchard Yard is a really special opportunity to bring new life back to a long-neglected part of Newcastle and create a neighbourhood that is rooted in the site’s remarkable history.
“We want this to become a place where people genuinely want to live and spend time, with new homes, green spaces and restored historic streets helping reconnect this part of Stephenson Quarter with the wider city.
“Submitting the planning application is an important milestone for the project and another step forward for the wider Founders Place vision, where momentum is continuing to build across the site through the restoration of heritage buildings and the creation of new places for people and businesses.”
