The building of a huge arena development on the Gateshead Quayside is set to take a key step towards finally becoming a reality this week.
Plans for a “world class” entertainment venue and conference centre on the south bank of the Tyne have been in the works for years, with hopes that the project will create hundreds of jobs and deliver an enormous boost to the North East economy. But construction on the cleared site, nestled between the Sage music centre and the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, has yet to begin after the inflation crisis sent the price of the scheme rocketing to above £300m.
The escalating costs forced bosses to redraw the proposals, removing a large hotel that had drawn the ire of Quayside neighbours, and to seek financial help from the Government – with a £20m bid to the Levelling Up Fund succeeding at the second attempt. Now the redesigned version of the riverside complex is due to get the seal of approval from councillors, paving the way for building work to begin later this year.
