Feasibility Study for the Industrial Area - Part 1 (PDF 5 MB)

4. Regeneration Initiatives
There are a number of regeneration initiatives, and strategies,
that are relevant to the study area. They are described below.
4.1 Walker Riverside Draft Master Plan
(Places for People/Llewelyn Davies, 2004)
This document is also known (and referred to elsewhere in this
report) as the Places for People Master Plan. It is one of six
Regeneration Area Plans identified by Newcastle City Council.
The draft master plan submitted to the City Council by it its
regeneration partner, Places for People, covers a large part of the
East End of Newcastle and includes this study area. The master
plan is one of a suite of documents including the Statement of
Community Involvement, The Case for Change and a Design
Code. The draft master plan is currently proceeding through the
Statutory Planning Process and will become, subject to the
preferred option process, the basis for the Area Action Plan for
Walker Riverside.
A Walker Riverside Board has been established with
representation from Newcastle City Council, Places for People,
Bridging NewcastleGateshead, English Partnerships, One North
East, Chamber of Commerce and the local community. This
Board will oversee the implementation of the regeneration plan for
Walker Riverside.
The northern boundary of the master plan area is defined by
Welbeck Road and a straight extension of the road down to the
Tyne towards Low Walker. The northern riverside of the Tyne up
to the residential development of St. Peter’s forms the southern
boundary.
The overarching approach of the Draft Master Plan is driven by
the following principles: “To make Walker more sustainable in
every sense: environmentally, economically and socially” and
“Staying ahead of the game” (i.e. building new before any major
demolition takes place).
As a priority the Draft Master Plan addresses issues and
proposes change connected with the housing stock and
community facilities, together with open space and public
transport provision. The key proposals to regenerate the area are
as follows:
- 2,500 new homes over a period of 15 years and located in
a belt between Walker Road and the River Tyne, starting
with Cambrian development and Pottery Bank.
- The Cambrian development (awarded “Minded to Grant”
status in December 2004) is the first step of the
implementation of the master plan, and very important to
increase confidence in the area.
- Community and retail cores with a range of services: in the
west around the junction of Walker Road/Pottery Bank and
in the east at Church Walk.
- A network of enhanced open spaces, including Walker
Riverside Park, Walker and Harbottle Park, Hadrian’s Way,
Allotments Gardens and Green Fingers connecting the
considerable quantity of existing scattered open spaces.
- A range of proposals targeting a considerable enhanced
public transport provision and street enhancement
schemes including a tram linking the area with the Metro
network (subsequntly abandoned on financial grounds), the
transformation of Walker Road into an attractive boulevard
and the consequent designation of a preferred freight route
entering the industrial area from Fisher Street/ Low Walker.
It is expected that that the proposed enhancements will
contribute to a better quality of life for the neighbourhood and
improve the overall image of Walker as place to live and work. In
this respect, the delivery of the Places for People Plan would
have indirect benefits for the industrial area (improved urban
setting, better quality of local life, social stability, improved local
schools and public transport, etc.), which could help supporting
its long term prosperity.
However, as the Places for People Master Plan also comprises
approximately two thirds of the Walker Riverside industrial area,
it also makes suggestions for change that will directly affect the
businesses located alongside the river:
- Designation of mixed uses (business, industry, retail,
residential and leisure) in the central part of the industrial
area
- The identification of Walker Road as a key public transport
route and urban corridor
- The restriction of heavy lorry traffic to the Fisher Street /
Fossway route
- The proposals of introducing public access to the river
through green links and fingers in the south and the central
part of the area
- The creation of landmark building at the southern edge of
the area.
These proposals reflect an aspiration of better integration
between residential and industrial area and a future of
modernisation and diversification of the overall business portfolio
in the area, which was not tested in terms of long term viability.
4.2 Newcastle Plan (2004) and Outer East Area
Regeneration Plan (Draft Version 1.7 – 2003)
These two documents set the scene for the Places for People
Master Plan.
The Newcastle Plan is the joint document containing the
Community Strategy and the Neighbourhood Renewable Strategy
and sets the agenda for improving the most deprived areas of the
city and guide the allocation of over £13m of Neighbourhood
Renewal Fund.
The Outer East Area Regeneration Plan is one of three
regeneration plans for the East End of the city.
Both Plans recognise the industrial Walker Riverside as a
strategic site for employment in the engineering, marine, offshore
and renewables sector.
16 Colin Buchanan