Team Valley
Encyclopedia
Team Valley is a traditionally heavily industrial area of Gateshead
in Tyne and Wear
, England
. More recently it has become home to the 'Retail World' retail park
, which makes up just a small percentage of the entirety of the Team Valley Trading Estate. Many large international companies are based in the area's trading estate and it is rapidly developing as a business park
rather than the heavily industrialised area it used to be. There are currently approximately 1400 companies on the estate, and each day approximately 25,000 people travel to Team Valley.
establishing the Team Valley Trading Estate as a well-planned industrial environment.
This initiative resulted in a landscaped estate intended for 15,000 workers. It included a central headquarters, now used by English Partnerships
, a bank, a post office and, some modestly scaled industrial buildings as well as some smaller industrial units for start-up ventures.
These facilities were laid out along a wide central artery, known as 'Kingsway', almost two miles long. The construction, which was undertaken by Wimpey Construction
, took several years and was completed in 1938. Many of the older residents of Gateshead were involved in the building of the original team valley.
The southern end used to be the location of the National Coal Board's regional headquarters but after the closure of the mines in the area this was replaced by a Safeway
supermarket which is now owned by Sainsbury's.
The River Team
runs directly through the centre of the trading estate, hidden in a culvert.
Recently developments at the north end of the trading estate have seen a new hotel, shops, offices and a Regus virtual office building being built.
using the provisions of Article 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 to restrict additional development taking place on Team Valley. The North East Chamber of Commerce and two local newspapers (The Journal
and Evening Chronicle
) have launched a campaign against these restrictions, entitled "Go for Jobs".
To the East it is bordered by the East Coast Main Line
which is the main railway between London
and Edinburgh
via Newcastle. Until 1952, the Trading Estate was served by Low Fell Railway Station
. The nearest heavy rail station is in Newcastle
, while the Tyne and Wear Metro
is accessible at Gateshead Interchange
.
Bus services are provided by Go North East
with most operating to and from Gateshead Interchange.
Gateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
in Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear
Tyne and Wear is a metropolitan county in north east England around the mouths of the Rivers Tyne and Wear. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. More recently it has become home to the 'Retail World' retail park
Retail park
In the United Kingdom, a retail park is a grouping of many retail warehouses and superstores with associated car parking. Its North American equivalent is a power centre. Retail parks are found on the fringes of most large towns and cities in highly accessible locations and are aimed at households...
, which makes up just a small percentage of the entirety of the Team Valley Trading Estate. Many large international companies are based in the area's trading estate and it is rapidly developing as a business park
Business park
A business park or office park is an area of land in which many office buildings are grouped together. All of the work that goes on is commercial, not industrial or residential....
rather than the heavily industrialised area it used to be. There are currently approximately 1400 companies on the estate, and each day approximately 25,000 people travel to Team Valley.
History
In the 1930s the Government decided to spend nearly £2m on this part of GatesheadGateshead
Gateshead is a town in Tyne and Wear, England and is the main settlement in the Metropolitan Borough of Gateshead. Historically a part of County Durham, it lies on the southern bank of the River Tyne opposite Newcastle upon Tyne and together they form the urban core of Tyneside...
establishing the Team Valley Trading Estate as a well-planned industrial environment.
This initiative resulted in a landscaped estate intended for 15,000 workers. It included a central headquarters, now used by English Partnerships
English Partnerships
English Partnerships was the national regeneration agency for England, performing a similar role on a national level to that fulfilled by Regional Development Agencies on a regional level...
, a bank, a post office and, some modestly scaled industrial buildings as well as some smaller industrial units for start-up ventures.
These facilities were laid out along a wide central artery, known as 'Kingsway', almost two miles long. The construction, which was undertaken by Wimpey Construction
George Wimpey
George Wimpey was formed in 1880 and, based in Hammersmith, operated largely as a road surfacing contractor. The business was acquired by Godfrey Mitchell in 1919 and he developed it into the UK’s pre-eminent construction and housebuilding firm. In 2007, Wimpey merged with Taylor Woodrow to create...
, took several years and was completed in 1938. Many of the older residents of Gateshead were involved in the building of the original team valley.
The southern end used to be the location of the National Coal Board's regional headquarters but after the closure of the mines in the area this was replaced by a Safeway
Safeway (UK)
Safeway was a chain of supermarkets and convenience stores in the United Kingdom. It started as a subsidiary of the American Safeway Inc., before being sold off in 1987....
supermarket which is now owned by Sainsbury's.
The River Team
River Team
The River Team is a tributary of the River Tyne in Gateshead, England.Its source is near Annfield Plain, where it is known as Kyo Burn. Then changing its name again to Causey Burn as it flows underneath the famous Causey Arch. It then flows past Beamish Museum in County Durham then crosses the...
runs directly through the centre of the trading estate, hidden in a culvert.
Recently developments at the north end of the trading estate have seen a new hotel, shops, offices and a Regus virtual office building being built.
Transport
Although the Team Valley Trading Estate predates the road by several decades, it is now bordered on the West by the A1 road, and has two junctions at both the north and south ends. A dual carriageway runs the length of the trading estate between the two A1 road junctions. The worsening congestion and the lack of scope for improving the A1 has led to the Highways AgencyHighways Agency
The Highways Agency is an executive agency, part of the Department for Transport in England. It has responsibility for managing the core road network in England...
using the provisions of Article 14 of the Town and Country Planning (General Development Procedure) Order 1995 to restrict additional development taking place on Team Valley. The North East Chamber of Commerce and two local newspapers (The Journal
The Journal (newspaper)
The Journal is a daily newspaper produced in Newcastle upon Tyne. Published by ncjMedia, , The Journal is produced every weekday and Saturday morning and is complemented by its sister publications the Evening Chronicle and the Sunday Sun.The newspaper mainly has a middle-class and professional...
and Evening Chronicle
Evening Chronicle
The Evening Chronicle is a daily, evening newspaper produced in Newcastle upon Tyne, covering Tyne and Wear, southern Northumberland and northern County Durham. It was founded in 1885 by Joseph Cowen...
) have launched a campaign against these restrictions, entitled "Go for Jobs".
To the East it is bordered by the East Coast Main Line
East Coast Main Line
The East Coast Main Line is a long electrified high-speed railway link between London, Peterborough, Doncaster, Wakefield, Leeds, York, Darlington, Newcastle and Edinburgh...
which is the main railway between London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
via Newcastle. Until 1952, the Trading Estate was served by Low Fell Railway Station
Low Fell railway station
Low Fell Railway Station served the Low Fell area of Gateshead. It closed in 1952.-References:*...
. The nearest heavy rail station is in Newcastle
Newcastle railway station
Newcastle railway station , is the mainline station of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne, England and is a principal stop on the East Coast Main Line. It opened in 1850 and is a Grade I listed building...
, while the Tyne and Wear Metro
Tyne and Wear Metro
The Tyne and Wear Metro, also known as the Metro, is a light rail system in North East England, serving Newcastle upon Tyne, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and Sunderland. It opened in 1980 and in 2007–2008 provided 40 million public journeys on its network of nearly...
is accessible at Gateshead Interchange
Gateshead Interchange
Gateshead Interchange is a transport interchange in the centre of the town of Gateshead, England. It is served by the Tyne and Wear Metro, whose station is underground, as well as local bus services...
.
Bus services are provided by Go North East
Go North East
Go North East is the largest operator of bus services in North East England, United Kingdom. Go North East operates services in the counties of Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Northumberland...
with most operating to and from Gateshead Interchange.