Brewery site bought for Science City
The Newcastle Science City initiative has taken a major step forward with the £33 million acquisition of the former Scottish & Newcastle brewery site.
The deal means that 14.4 acres of the site have now passed from Scottish & Newcastle Breweries to a partnership comprising the University, Newcastle City Council and regional development agency One NorthEast, which has pledged to use Science City status to enhance the region’s reputation for pioneering scientific research and as a key location for knowledge-based business.
The former brewery site – 22 acres in total – is one of the biggest city centre regeneration sites in the UK.
Negotiations to begin acquiring the site started over a year ago after Scottish & Newcastle Breweries announced it was relocating to the Federation Brewery site in Dunston, Gateshead.
Although contracts have been formally exchanged, Scottish & Newcastle Breweries are currently decommissioning the site and will not officially vacate until June 2006.
The next step in the development of Science City will be a masterplan commissioned by the partners that will be completed in 2006.
The University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Christopher Edwards, said: 'Very rarely does a development site of this size become available in a city centre and I am delighted that we have seized the opportunity to acquire it.
'We are now in a position to put science at the heart of our city. We aim to lead the way in regional development by demonstrating that scientists, the business community and the public sector can work together and make a major contribution to our regional economy.
'Our vision is that in the twenty first century, new industries based on developments in nanotechnology, bioscience and molecular engineering will become as powerful as coal and shipbuilding were in the nineteenth century.'
Paul Walker, Chief Executive of The Sage Group plc, is chairman of Newcastle Science City Partnership that will oversee the development of Science City. He said: 'This is a truly exciting step for the Science City initiative. Investment in science and innovation is vital for the region’s long term growth and prosperity. This first step proves we are serious in our goal to make Newcastle a world class centre for science.'
City Councillor John Shipley said: '`Newcastle Brown Ale has been a fantastic brand name helping to make the city famous all over the world.
'With Science City we hope to create an even stronger brand that will bring high quality jobs and lasting prosperity to Newcastle and the city region for the next 100 years.'
Web link to further information:
www.ncl.ac.uk/sciencecity/"> Science City web page
published on: 8th November 2005