Plans to bring 9,000 HMRC jobs into Newcastle city centre look set to take a huge step towards becoming a reality next week.
City council chiefs could give their backing to the £155m Pilgrim’s Quarter office complex next Friday. The landmark development, which is the largest office scheme ever proposed in the city centre, would be a massive building up to nine storeys tall wrapping around Pilgrim Street, John Dobson Street, Market Street and New Bridge Street West.
Thousands of Government staff are expected to move into the site, which is being brought forward by the Reuben Brothers, by 2027 from HMRC’s bases in Longbenton and Washington. And the scheme has now been recommended for approval ahead of a hearing of Newcastle City Council’s planning committee on Friday, April 29.
That is despite a series of objections from heritage organisations about the impact on the grade II listed Carliol House, the interior of which will be torn down to make way for the new offices. The Northumberland and Newcastle Society warned earlier this week that the 1920s building, originally built as the headquarters of the North Eastern Electricity Supply Company, was being “effectively demolished” – though its Art Deco exterior will be retained and incorporated into Pilgrim’s Quarter.
Concerns about the damage to Carliol House have also been aired by Historic England, Historic Buildings and Places, the Twentieth Century Society and the Newcastle Conservation Panel ahead of the council hearing.
The massive Pilgrim’s Quarter will also take over the former site of the Odeon Cinema, currently occupied by the Stack shipping container venue, plus that of the demolished Dex Car Garage, as well as Commercial Union House and Bamburgh House – both of which will also be torn down. The new building would be six storeys in height on Pilgrim Street and New Bridge Street West and rise to nine storeys on John Dobson Street, and it will have a 145-space basement car park.
A council planning officer’s report admits that the design of the huge HMRC offices “does have some shortcomings for such a significant development in the city centre” and would cause harm to Carliol House. However, councillors have been recommended to give Pilgrim’s Quarter their backing due to its “substantial regeneration benefits”.
The report states: “The proposal would help to increase vitality and vibrancy in the area through development of this key regeneration site, construction of the new buildings, the provision of improved public realm and connections to the surrounding streets, increased footfall in the area, increased investment and stimulation for regeneration. Whilst the removal of historic fabric is unfortunately regrettable and the design does have some shortcomings it is considered that overall this less than substantial harm needs to be balanced against the above public benefits that the applicant has set out.”
If councillors are minded to grant planning permission for the scheme, it would have to be referred to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities because of the objections over Carliol House.
