Key Project Information

• Mixed-use development to include research and academic facilities, health facilities, residential institutions, residential dwellings, business and commercial uses, community and leisure amenities and small-scale retail.
• Forms part of Newcastle’s Health Innovation Zone which received £10m of funding in the North East Mayoral Combined Authority Trailblazer Deal announced in the 2024 Spring Budget.
• Three separate applications to demolish the existing buildings, provide enabling works and for the site’s redevelopment.

We are advising clients Newcastle University and Genr8 Kajima on the redevelopment of the former Newcastle General Hospital site.

The mixed-use proposal will deliver a high-quality, exemplar neighbourhood with a focus on health innovation and healthy living. The UK’s first Health Innovation Neighbourhood (HIN) is the second biggest strategic site in Newcastle’s local plan. It is a key element of the Deeper Devolution deal recently announced by the government, bringing this important funding to the north east region.

The scheme, which focuses on health, the environment and digital technologies, will provide intergenerational residential and later living accommodation as well as research facilities. Its aim is to inform and shape the future of how we care for our ageing population, and help people live longer, healthier and more sustainable lives.

We are leading on all planning matters with regards to the outline application which will include research and academic facilities, health facilities, residential institutions, residential dwellings, business and commercial uses, community and leisure amenities and small-scale retail. The proposal also incorporates quality areas of open space and public realm, a low-car and largely traffic free environment, breaking down existing boundary walls to integrate the site with the surrounding communities and areas for ecological enhancement.

The outline application has been supported by a comprehensive masterplan and design code which sets out how a high quality, landscape-led development will be achieved on the site as it is developed. This supports HIN’s ambition to act as a ‘living laboratory’ focused on digital enablement, healthcare and the anthropogenic environment with the neighbourhood improving lives at local, regional and global levels.

We are also leading on two other separate applications at the site seeking prior approval to demolish the existing redundant hospital buildings, and full planning permission to undertake the preparatory and remediation works for Phase 1 which will help unlock the delivery of this brownfield site.