Plans for huge nine-storey office block on STACK site

Fresh designs were revealed on Monday for what could be the city’s biggest ever office block, completely transforming a huge section of Pilgrim Street – including the current Stack complex.

An initial £200m luxury leisure, shopping and living project for the site was unveiled two years ago, which sparked worries among civic centre officials that a ‘substantial’ number of shops in the development could deal another major blow to the city’s ailing retail sector.

After watching the Covid pandemic accelerate the decline of city centre shopping as flagship stores like Debenhams closed down, council boss Michelle Percy warned in March that it was “not justifiable” to create any more retail space and told Taras Properties to go back to the drawing board with their plans.

Ms Percy, the council’s director of place, added that she did not want to “dilute” Eldon Square and that “tearing the heart out of retail in that way would be a real challenge for us”.

But the latest vision for what would be known as Pilgrim’s Quarter now features a gigantic nine-storey office block that would accommodate more than 6,700 workers, with a much smaller retail area located solely on the ground floor.

The council boss now believes that the new plans are no longer a threat to Eldon Square’s future.

Ms Percy said: “Newcastle is a growing city. We welcome all investment that creates employment opportunities and high-quality development.

“The retail element being consulted upon offers small sized units for smaller retailers – the type that creates active frontage rather than competes with the big high street brands.

“It will diversify Newcastle’s retail offer rather than duplicate it. However, we are at a very early stage and ultimately any application that is submitted to the council will be subject to the rigours of the planning process, and the final decision rests with members of the planning committee.”

As well as the massive 678,000sqft of offices, the Pilgrim’s Quarter design includes public realm improvements, 146 parking spots, and the refurbishment of Carliol House.

It is the latest scheme being pushed forward by Taras, which works on behalf of the billionaire Reuben Brothers, after the company also secured permission to redevelop the old fire station and Bank of England sites further down Pilgrim Street.

A public consultation on the plans has been launched online at pilgrimsquarternewcastle.com and they will also be on show at the City Library on September 22 from 10am to 5pm and on September 23 from 10am to 7pm.

Property consultancy Avison Young said: “On behalf of Taras Properties we are pleased to announce the commencement of public consultation for the Pilgrim’s Quarter scheme.

We look forward to hearing the views of residents, businesses and stakeholders on what we believe will be a transformational development for the city centre.”