A Newcastle landmark familiar to thousands of city commuters has found a new tenant after its redevelopment into offices.
Tyneside Group, which specialises in renovation of historic buildings across the city, has moved into the Blue House on Great North Road after being picked from a host of applicants by the property's owners, the Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne.
It follows works undertaken by the Freemen to make the Blue House into five office spaces, a bathroom and kitchen.
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Tyneside Group will also use the base for its construction business, Tyneside Developments Limited, which recently replaced the roof on Tynemouth's Gibraltar Rock pub following serious damage in Storm Arwen.
Robbie Kalbraier, Tyneside Group managing director, said: "The architecture in the North East is vital to the culture and identity of the region and its people.
"We believe unique buildings like the Blue House deserve to be protected as well as modernised, allowing them to remain as functional spaces while still safe-guarding their heritage and importance in shaping our city.
"As we look towards the next 10 years, it is a privilege to be given the opportunity to base our family company in such a significant local landmark. We are extremely grateful to the Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne for choosing us from the many applicants.”
The building has featured on maps as a landmark since 1852, and originally there were a pair of blue houses. Two workers’ cottages were originally built on Town Moor land by the Stewarts Committee to house those who were employed by the Freemen.
These houses became known as the Blue Houses due to the colour they were painted at the time. Today just one of the houses still exists and lends its name to the busy roundabout.
Tyneside Group says it has a strong connection to listed and heritage buildings in Newcastle having led schemes such the redevelopment of four terraced houses on Westgate Road and £6.3m works on New Bridge Street, among others.
The group now says it has a number of projects under way and hopes to launch more this year.
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