Gateshead arena development still “absolutely realistic” claims North East mayor

There have been major question marks over the stalled plans for what has been hailed as a “world class” regeneration scheme on the Gateshead Quayside.

A prime patch of land between the Glasshouse music centre and the Baltic art gallery is earmarked for a 12,500-seat arena and an international grade convention centre, but there has been no sign of the construction work that was meant to start in autumn 2023 actually getting under way.

Heavily inflated costs have been blamed for the ongoing delays to the flagship project, which could deliver a £70 million annual boost to the North East economy, and it emerged last month that the North East Combined Authority (NECA) was funding new work to “assess market demand” for the development.

However, North East mayor Kim McGuinness believes that the scheme can still go ahead.

The Labour mayor told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “I want to see a major music venue and a convention centre on that patch of land. I think it is absolutely realistic, it is what our region needs. We want to attract people here, we want to attract major artists to come and perform here, we want to host major events. 

“It was only a couple of years ago that we bid for and were not able to achieve Eurovision. We should be able to bring events like that to this region and there is nowhere, not a single site, that is better equipped than that to host major national and international events.

“It is deliverable. Obviously that project has been the victim of inflation and all the other things that slow these things down, but I am determined that we get on with it. 

“It is Gateshead [Council]’s project at the moment but we are here to back Gateshead in making sure something happens with that site as soon as possible.”

In January 2023, it was stated that the estimated cost of the development had jumped from an original £260 million to more than £350 million.

The LDRS understands that number has risen substantially since then. Factors including Brexit, the war in Ukraine, and major inflation hitting the construction industry have been blamed for a “massive” funding gap that has brought the scheme to a halt.

Ms McGuinness’ deputy mayor, Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon, has also remained insistent that the riverside regeneration will happen.

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He said in March that it was “inconceivable” that the conference centre, which was first granted planning permission back in 2020, would not be built.

Gateshead Council has also faced questions over why a £23 million multi-storey car park has already been built near the proposed conference centre site when the main development is yet to go ahead.

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