Plans for Newcastle Quayside to become home to 'world class' music recording studio

The Coronation Building, which is owned by the Live Theatre, has been revealed as the preferred location for a major new recording studio in the heart of Tyneside.

Record label giant Warner Music UK and music development agency Generator announced plans last November to open a Newcastle facility that would include recording studios, editing suites and podcasting space, in what has been seen as a major boost for the region’s cultural sector and budding artists.

Newcastle City Council and the Live Theatre are now drawing up plans that would see the grade II listed Coronation Building, where Generator is based, be transformed into the state-of-the-art development.

Council bosses signed off last week on an initial £48,000 investment, including a £29,000 grant to the Live Theatre, to fund initial design works that will drive forward the proposals.

It is hoped that the North East mayor Kim McGuinness will also provide financial backing for the scheme, once a full business case has been readied.

Newcastle City Council leader Karen Kilgour said: “We and our partners in the public and private sectors have stated our ambition to see a world class recording studio in Newcastle. Coming on the back of the highly successful MOBO Awards, this would cement the city’s growing reputation for having a talented and lively music scene and give a platform to up and coming artists.

“As part of that ambition we are looking to enter into a grant funding agreement with Live Theatre. They not only own Coronation Building on the Quayside as a preferred location but also have significant experience in delivering publicly funded capital projects.

“This is an incredibly exciting project, and while there is much still to do, we look forward to it getting off the ground.”

A council report said that the Coronation Building, which dates back to 1902, had been settled on as the preferred destination after “various options” were explored.

Live Theatre were “enthusiastic about the potential to create new recording studios within their building; as it complements their wider activity within the creative sector; while also providing them with a new income stream that helps the charity’s long-term viability”.

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The theatre’s executive director, Jacqui Kell, added: “Live Theatre is collaborating with Newcastle City Council, Generator, and the North East Combined Authority to transform one of its Quayside buildings into a cutting-edge creative space.

“The redevelopment of Coronation Buildings will feature state-of-the-art recording studios for music and podcasts, along with a professional photography studio.

“Known for developing a vibrant hub within its Quayside properties for creative and cultural industries, Live Theatre continues this mission with this project—designed to attract major music talent to the city while supporting emerging local artists.”