Network Rail and 3R Land & Property have today submitted a planning application to develop on a brownfield site on Askew Road, Gateshead – creating jobs and regenerating the economy.
The proposed scheme would regenerate a derelict piece of land, by creating a new north east maintenance centre for Network Rail, and further mixed-use development delivered by 3R Land & Property.
Network Rail’s site will consist of a two-storey office building, storage facilities and car and cycle parking spaces. The new office space, totalling 2070 sq m, will bring together up to 300 staff from existing offices and sub-depots across the region.
3R Land & Property, which is selling part of the site to Network Rail, is proposing to develop a hotel, offices, restaurant and a car park on the remainder of the land. It is estimated the whole scheme will create around 150 jobs in Gateshead.
Paul Rutter, route infrastructure maintenance director for Network Rail said:
“This new centre will allow us to bring teams together, creating opportunities to work more efficiently. The centre will manage maintenance of the railway throughout Northumberland and Durham plus the Tyneside, Wearside and Teesside Areas .
“This scheme will help regenerate a neglected area of Gateshead and create jobs for the local economy as well as delivering a fantastic new mixed-use development for the local area.”
Work on site is hoped to start in autumn of this year and Network Rail’s site is due to be completed a year later.
