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

5.2.4 Walker Riverside Masterplan – Policies
Consultation Draft (1998)
A draft masterplan for the Walker Riverside Area was published in
1998 for consultation. The masterplan was intended to guide the
development of the industrial estate for the next 5 years. This
plan was not adopted. However, it provides a useful context
paper.
The masterplan rolls forward the feasibility study which was
undertaken in 1997 by Economic Research Services, and
The policies of the draft masterplan concentrated on six themes,
which included the following:
focuses on issues such as site preparation, landuse priorities, - Quay facilities
environmental improvements, quay and access improvements
and local skill development. The masterplan also notes the
success of the SRB programme on the riverside, which has
resulted in the completion of a number of significant projects.
The masterplan identified a number of opportunities in the area
- Establishing an offshore and marine related cluster
Priority should be given to establishing and promoting
offshore and marine related cluster. This will be promoted
through the provision of financial and non-financial support
and appointment of a dedicated marketing officer.
Improvement of quay facilities for those companies with
quayside locations who wish to expand.
Assess the current level of use of the public quay in order
to consider the viability of an upriver extension.
which are integrated into the policies. In particular, this includes - Availability of local labour pool and relevant skills
the following:
Provide a co-ordinated approach to the provision of an
- The presence of an established offshore cluster that appropriately skilled local labour pool, to maximise local
includes customers, suppliers and research and
development competitors.
employment opportunities for residents in the East End
and Walker area.
- The public quay is an asset to the Walker Riverside Area Provide support to residents of the East End through
and provides a deep water berth of 8m minimum, 1000m in
length and has a heavy lift capacity.
- The area is largely council owned, so provides the
existing schemes for reskilling and upskilling to improve
access to jobs opportunities within the Walker Riverside
opportunity to guide development , ensure the - Creation of development opportunity sites
implementation of the plan and provide an integrated
approach to maintenance.
area.
Priority should be given to the creation of development
opportunity sites that promote the marine and offshore
- Provides access to the north sea and European markets, sector, focusing on Malaya Drive and Welbeck Road.
thus offering locational advantages.
Where existing occupiers of key sites within the area do
- Opportunity to improve access and increasing the use of not fit into the marine or offshore related sector,
the public quay
- Availability of sites and premises provides the capacity for
future growth and expansion of new and existing
businesses.
- Regeneration of Walker Riverside provides the opportunity
to enhance the marine and terrestrial environment of the
River Tyne for the benefit of both business, wildlife and the
image of the whole area.
opportunities will be taken to make these sites available
for companies within the sector – this excludes well
established firms and supply chain firms.
The former Swan Hunter car park site will be brought
forward for development.
Hadrian’s Way cycle path will be designed to avoid
prejudicing the development of opportunity sites.
- Highways and accessibility
However, the plan identifies a number of problems including
fragmentation of sites; topographical issues which makes site
assembly difficult and costly to remediate; the quay wall has
fallen into disrepair; poor accessibility, poor image regarding the
condition of individual buildings and the estate as a whole; few
large available sites; prolonged vacancy/incompatible uses and
crime and vandalism.
Access within the Walker Riverside should be improved as
current access arrangements are not appropriate to
accommodate vehicles that service the marine industry.
Neptune Road will be realigned and improved at its junction
with Oil Mill Lane following the demolition of the railway
bridge to improve access to the north of the site.
The Council aims to promote cycling by developing the
cycle network and requiring new or expanding businesses
to provide cycle parking.
Improve public transport provision.
Investigate the problems of on street parking and promote
appropriate improvement measures.
28 Colin Buchanan