£85 million landmark regeneration sites ready to progress

Three major regeneration projects in the centre of Newcastle are all ready to take their next step.

This week Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is expected to approve separate contracts worth £85 million in total to progress redevelopment of The Ryecroft, Astley Place and the Midway.

Once complete, the three developments will bring scores of homes, several shops and a hotel to the town centre, following the opening of the 455-place Castle Car Park for shoppers and visitors.

Simon Tagg, Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, said: “Being a borough council rooted in our community we are focused on making Newcastle town centre a better place for people to live, work and enjoy our shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants.

“This investment across three key sites will not only change the look of the town centre, it will change the feel of it too by bringing in more residents and visitors.”

At The Ryecroft, respected developer Capital&Centric will build around 130 apartments in three units, with landscaping, while other parts of the site are earmarked for Aspire Housing, McCarthy Stone the specialist accommodation providers for over-55s, and for an aparthotel.

Work is already underway at the former York Place site, now renamed Astley Place, where Capital&Centric is retaining part of the original structure’s frame, which will be integrated into the design.

That project will create more accommodation and commercial space, while opening the area between Merrial Street and Ironmarket, around the Old Bulls Head pub, where owner Joule’s Brewery plans to create a live music venue.

And at The Midway, the car park has been closed after the opening of Castle Car Park, paving the way for Capital&Centric to transform the landmark concrete structure into around 110 new apartments, with gym and other shared facilities.

Stephen Sweeney, Deputy Leader of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Cabinet member for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, said: “These are three major schemes which we are working hard to keep moving quickly.

“Agreeing these contracts paves the way for significant work on all three sites so that by the end of the year, Newcastle’s landscape will be changing for all to see.”