Tyne and Wear Development Corporation
Encyclopedia
The Tyne and Wear Development Corporation (TWDC) was established in 1987 to develop land on the banks of the River Tyne
and the River Wear
in England
. Its flagship developments included the regeneration of the East Quayside in Newcastle
, Royal Quays in North Tyneside
and St Peter's in Sunderland. During its lifetime 10700000 square feet (994,062.5 m²) of non-housing development and 4,550 housing units were built. Around 33,707 new jobs were created and some £1,115m of private finance was leveraged in. Circa 1287 acres (520.8 ha) of derelict land was reclaimed and 24 miles (38.6 km) of new road and footpaths put in place.
The Chairman was Sir Paul Nicholson
and the Chief Executive was Alastair Balls
. It was dissolved in 1998.
The legacy of TWDC remains controversial within the region in particular in Sunderland where it is believed the investment in services and leisure opportunities in Newcastle where the corporation was based was not matched in the rest of the region. The Corporation also invested heavily in developing the Tyne and Wear Metro system although this did not get extended to Sunderland until after the Corporation was shut down.
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
and the River Wear
River Wear
The River Wear is located in North East England, rising in the Pennines and flowing eastwards, mostly through County Durham, to the North Sea at Sunderland.-Geology and history:...
in 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...
. Its flagship developments included the regeneration of the East Quayside in Newcastle
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, Royal Quays in North Tyneside
North Tyneside
The Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside is a metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England and is part of the Tyneside conurbation. Its seat is Wallsend Town Hall....
and St Peter's in Sunderland. During its lifetime 10700000 square feet (994,062.5 m²) of non-housing development and 4,550 housing units were built. Around 33,707 new jobs were created and some £1,115m of private finance was leveraged in. Circa 1287 acres (520.8 ha) of derelict land was reclaimed and 24 miles (38.6 km) of new road and footpaths put in place.
The Chairman was Sir Paul Nicholson
Paul Nicholson (industrialist)
Sir Paul Douglas Nicholson, KCVO is an English industrialist and current Lord Lieutenant of County Durham.Nicholson was born in Co. Durham and educated at Harrow School and Clare College, Cambridge. Between Harrow and Cambridge, he was commissioned during National Service in The Coldstream Guards...
and the Chief Executive was Alastair Balls
Alastair Balls
Alastair Balls CB is a former senior economic adviser to the U.K. HM Treasury and Director, Northern Region, Departments of Environment and Transport, and is Chairman of the International Centre for Life...
. It was dissolved in 1998.
The legacy of TWDC remains controversial within the region in particular in Sunderland where it is believed the investment in services and leisure opportunities in Newcastle where the corporation was based was not matched in the rest of the region. The Corporation also invested heavily in developing the Tyne and Wear Metro system although this did not get extended to Sunderland until after the Corporation was shut down.