|
|
|
|
Regent Centre
|
| |
|
| |
Regent Centre is a large business park in the Gosforth area of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The Centre is currently home to a variety of companies, including banking group Northern Rock who have located their Head Office on the site. The Centre has its own transport interchange; comprising of a Metro station, as well as a medium-sized bus station.
h British Properties started to build Regent Centre in 1970 and finished in 1981; at completion it was the largest office complex in Europe, covering a total area of 11 acres.
Discussion
Ask a question about 'Regent Centre' Start a new discussion about 'Regent Centre' Answer questions from other users |
Encyclopedia
Regent Centre is a large business park in the Gosforth area of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. The Centre is currently home to a variety of companies, including banking group Northern Rock who have located their Head Office on the site. The Centre has its own transport interchange; comprising of a Metro station, as well as a medium-sized bus station.
History
North British Properties started to build Regent Centre in 1970 and finished in 1981; at completion it was the largest office complex in Europe, covering a total area of 11 acres. The current owner-developer is the Fordgate Group. The land is the former site of the Regent Pit of the Coxlodge Colliery (coal mine). The total letable area is 350,000 sq ft. The centre unveiled a new logo and identity in late 2008; this new logo is similar in style to the one used for Regent Point. The centre's slogan is "Better for Business".
Occupants
Regent Centre houses the Newcastle regional centre for the Open University, although it is being relocated to Gateshead, as well as the Regional HQ of HM Revenue & Customs. Other tenants include the Entec, Imass, Northern Rock, DVLA, HSE, Labour Party, and Gleeds. A notable former tenant was The Sage Group.
Location
Within walking distance of Regent Centre, there is a Metro station, Gosforth High School, Gosforth Library and Customer Service Centre, and Gosforth Leisure Centre, comprising several amenities including swimming pools and gym. There is also an ASDA superstore close by, which in mid 2007 had an extension built which houses a Restaurant. Across from ADSA there is a furniture store, which used to be a Jaguar Cars showroom. Gosforth High Street is also within a few minutes walk. St Charles Primary school is located on Regent Farm Road, across from the Northern Rock building, between Regent Centre and a housing estate, Regent Farm Estate.
Regent Point
Planning applications were granted to expand and modernise a large section of the Regent Centre site, which is adjacent to the Metro line. In April 2007, work began on this area of land which is also called Regent Point; building work began in early 2008 on the 100,000sq ft building. It will be a four story office building with a glazed corner tower and modelled to be similar to the existing Regent Centre buildings. As of the end of 2008, Regent Point is under construction.
This plot was vacant from many years, as the original Regent Centre building which occupied (Clayton House) it was demolished in 1999. There have been many different accepted plans for this site, including plans for a 5 story building in 1998. In 2004 there were plans for a 7 story building with retail space on the ground floor, however these plans were withdrawn in July 2005.
Developer Fordgate Group has appointed Bowmer and Kirkland as the main contractor for Regent Point. The architects are Howarth Litchfield Partnership, The consulting engineers are Cundall, and Home Stretch Properties Ltd. are also involved in the project. Caunton Engineering have also supplied and erected over 600 tonnes of beam and column structural steelwork. The building has a BREEAM rating of "Excellent".
Northern Rock
The Northern Rock bank has its headquarters on a site that is adjacent to, although not technically a part of Regent Centre. This complex is called Northern Rock House. The Red Box Design Group has been involved with the development of all of the currently standing buildings for the bank.
The focal point of Regent Centre since 1965 had been Northern Rock's old tower 7 storey building. In early 2006 this building was demolished and its replacement, simply known as The Tower, that is 10 storeys high and cost £35 million was completed in November 2008. Two of Northern Rocks other buildings on the site were completed in the 1990s, two further buildings were built in the early 2000s.
Northern Rock had financial difficulties in 2007 due to the subprime mortgage crisis and was nationalised in 2008. This led to the company deciding to downsize, including job cubs and deciding to put this new tower building up for let or sale.
Buildings
With the new developments, as of March 2009, there is empty office space to let. There is space available in Regent Point, Horsley House North, Dobson House and Eldon House West. The buildings are named after well known local industrialists and architects, such as John Dobson and Lord Eldon. The Grainger Suite (soon to be renamed Gosforth Services Offices) is located in Dobson House.
Buildings
- Arden House
- Horsley House North
- Horsley House
- Eldon House West
- Northumbria House
- Dobson House
- Eldon House East
- Regent Point
External links
Historic photographs
- at Newcastle libraries service
- at Newcastle libraries service
- , , at Newscast
- at Newcastle University's SINE project
|
| |
|
|
