North East Mayor backs Capital&Centric’s Gateshead Old Town Hall regen

MAJOR plans to transform the iconic Old Town Hall in Gateshead into a thriving new neighbourhood have received a £3.4m funding boost.

The funding by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness will pave the way for social impact developer Capital&Centric to revamp the site into a community of new characterful homes.

Once Gateshead Council’s headquarters, the only surviving purpose-built Victorian town hall in Tyne and Wear is set for a full restoration. The Grade II listed building and surface level car parks are to be reimagined into a bustling neighbourhood of homes, cafes, bars, restaurants, and lush green spaces.

The Manchester-based developer is preparing a detailed vision for the site and plans to seek views from the local community over the next few months. It follows Capital&Centric partnering with Gateshead Council to transform the site last year.

The funding is part of a wider plan by the North East CA to invest £22m in delivering 1,122 new homes on major brownfield sites across the region.

John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric said:

“It’s fantastic to see Mayor Kim McGuinness back this landmark town centre site. This is a rare opportunity to reimagine an iconic building as a place people can enjoy – whether that’s hanging out or calling it home. Our vision is to create a new neighbourhood, kick starting wider regeneration across Gateshead. We’re looking forward to working with the Mayor and the North East Combined Authority to deliver the transformation this town deserves.”

North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness, said:

“We are getting on with delivering new homes across the North East by announcing funding this month alone to unlock nine brownfield sites for 1,122 new homes - but the transformation of Gateshead’s Old Town Hall truly stands out. The Old Town Hall has huge untapped potential as a unique historic landmark at the heart of our Mayoral Development Zone for Newcastle-Gateshead, one of the most exciting urban regeneration opportunities in the North of England. By breathing life back into an iconic building that has stood empty too long we’re not only delivering much‑needed homes, we’re preserving a piece of our shared heritage and creating a place that will once again inspire local people for generations to come.”

Cllr Martin Gannon, the leader of Gateshead Council, said:

“The Old Town Hall is a vital landmark, not only for Gateshead but for the whole of the North East. As Tyne and Wear's only surviving Victorian town hall, it holds a unique place in our collective story. By securing its future with a new purpose that honours its past, we are ensuring this much loved building continues to inspire, connect and serve our communities for generations to come.”

The Manchester-based developer has carved out a reputation for creative placemaking and repurposing some of the UK’s iconic historic buildings, turning them into new homes, work and cultural spaces fit for the 21st Century. Their plans to convert the first car park in the UK into homes in Newcastle-under-Lyme are underway, with other conversions including shopping centres, breweries and nightclubs also in the pipeline.

Having a slew of projects across Greater Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, and the Midlands, the Old Town Hall marks their first foray into the North East.

Capital&Centric invest £3million a week in regeneration across eight live construction sites as they expand into towns and cities across the UK, including Wolverhampton, Gateshead, and Sheffield.