Plans have been lodged for what could be the new tallest building in Newcastle.
A 28-storey apartment block planned at the Newcastle Helix could claim the title of the city’s highest structure, if it wins the approval of council bosses. The “landmark” tower would house 192 flats for rent and be built alongside a smaller 18-storey block with another 128 apartments, under plans from developers Legal and General (L&G) that would mark the latest phase in the transformation of the old Scottish and Newcastle Brewery site on the edge of the city centre.
The larger of the two buildings, designed by Ryder Architecture, would stand at 89.5m, or 293ft, tall – eclipsing the 82m Hadrian’s Tower, which stands just across the road on the other side of St James’ Boulevard.
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Proposals lodged with Newcastle City Council state: “Located adjacent to St James’ Boulevard, a key gateway into the city, the proposed scheme will be a prominent feature in the cityscape that brings balance to the skyline and further enhances Newcastle’s reputation as a world class place to live. The buildings and landscape design have been developed to create a vibrant, welcoming and aspirational environment for people to live which is complementary to the wider vision of Newcastle Helix – helping us all live better lives.”
Initial plans for the two towers were unveiled last December and have now been officially lodged with the city council to determine whether or not they can go ahead. The larger of the two buildings would be more than 60m taller than the maximum height that was designated for the plot in the Helix’s masterplan.
But developers have claimed that the vast scale is necessary to make the scheme financially viable and told the council that it would have a “positive impact on the cityscape”. The application reads: “It is acknowledged that there is a difference in height between the masterplan and the proposal, however this site presents an opportunity to provide a tall building marking the centre of Helix to celebrate its elevated position and its position within the city in both short and long term views.”
Hadrian's Tower overtook Vale House in Jesmond as the city's tallest building when it was completed in 2020.
However, all of those could yet be dwarved by the Gainford Group's plans for a 37-storey skyscraper at the site of the former Premier Inn on New Bridge Street if that goes ahead. Those £50m proposals for what would be the biggest structure in the North East were unveiled in April 2022, though a planning application is yet to be lodged with Newcastle City Council.
The unbuilt Whey Aye Wheel, for which planning permission lapsed last month, would have stood at a mammoth 460ft.
The 320 flats in the new Helix proposals would be a mix of studios, one-bed, and two-bedroom apartments, while the larger tower would also have a rooftop lounge and sky garden for its residents.
Planning consultants Lichfields said that the project “constitutes a high-quality, landmark new development” and would “provide a significant boost to the housing mix and provision within the city centre whilst enabling a significant boost to the local economy”. They added: “The benefits of the proposed development significantly outweigh any harm brought about by the development.”
The ongoing redevelopment of the 24-acre former brewery is intended to deliver over 4,000 jobs, 46,450sqm of office and research space and 450 new homes.
