Draft 25-Year Plan Unveiled for the Heart of Newcastle and Gateshead

A draft plan setting out how the centres of Newcastle and Gateshead could change over the next 25 years has been published. The Newcastle Gateshead Strategic Regeneration Framework covers the "urban core", the city centres on both sides of the Tyne, including the Quayside and Gateshead Quays.

The framework has been drawn up by the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council. Delivery will be coordinated through the area's Mayoral Development Zone.

What the plan covers

The councils say the urban core already supports around 118,000 jobs, draws about 17.5 million visitors a year, and generates about £2.47 billion in visitor spending. The draft plan aims to:

• add more than 3 million sq ft of commercial space
• double the number of people living in the urban core
• improve connections across the River Tyne

It names eight key opportunity areas. Major projects include Forth Yards behind Central Station, Gateshead Quays, and Pilgrim's Quarter around Pilgrim Street.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "We have amazing areas to live, work and study but now we need to go further."

Best for: The draft framework goes to Cabinet meetings at Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council first. A public consultation will follow, with feedback collected through an online form. Dates have not yet been confirmed.

What happens next

The plan is a draft at this stage. Individual projects will need their own funding, planning applications and consultation before anything is built. Reports of the plan have quoted differing population figures, so it is worth reading the framework itself when the consultation opens.

The plan was announced by Newcastle City Council. We will report on the consultation when it opens.