£120 million for regeneration of Newcastle brownfield site

The government has approved a funding package worth £121.8 million for the transformation of Quayside West at Forth Yards in Newcastle.

The package will pay for remediation, groundworks and infrastructure activity, fixing complex land issues that have proved a barrier to investment at the site.

The land is set to become a new, sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood next to the city’s central station and Quayside.

Matthew Pennycook, Housing and Planning Minister, said: "This government has a brownfield first approach to development, and we want to see previously used land prioritised wherever possible.

"We are acting to make it easier to build homes on abandoned, disused and neglected urban brownfield sites across the country – boosting housing supply, regenerating communities, and delivering economic growth."

Kim McGuinness, North East Mayor, said: "This derelict land is in a great location on the banks of the Tyne yet has stood mostly unused for 20 years, which is a huge waste of potential. 

"That’s why we promised to transform areas like this and now that’s exactly what we’re doing. We’ve secured funding so we can get the last brownfield site in Newcastle city centre ready to start building the homes that local people need. 

"This won’t be a vast estate, where people can’t access the services they need, but a thriving community with great transport links, green spaces and shops.

"We’re driving the transformation our region needs – from brownfield to beautiful – and today we’re announcing a huge step towards achieving that here at Forth Yards."