Newcastle University

A consortium planning the 2012 Olympic Games in London will be recommended as preferred master planners for the former brewery site which will become the hub of Newcastle Science City.

EDAW, a consortium of architects, civil engineers and property surveyors, will spearhead the transformation of the brewery site in Newcastle city centre, subject to approval by Newcastle City Council's procurement committee.

The masterplanners remit is to work with the site's three owners - Newcastle University, the City Council and regional development agency One NorthEast - and a range of other stakeholders to masterplan a site that will incorporate research and business facilities alongside a range of residential, retail and leisure amenities.

Paul Walker, chairman of Newcastle Science City Partnership, said: 'The proposed appointment of EDAW is an important step forward in our vision for a dynamic and ambitious Newcastle Science City which benefits the whole region.

' We already have cutting edge science in our region and we are now well on our way to creating the right environment to attract the substantial private sector investment needed to make the project an even greater success.'

Coun John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council, who chaired the selection panel, said: 'We were very impressed with the high standard of all of the bids.

'This was a very competitive process for a very important site at the heart of our Newcastle Science City ambitions.'

The appointment is subject to the approval of the council’s procurement committee which meets on Monday, November 20.

EDAW consists of London-based Hopkins Architects, international property surveyors King Sturge, civil engineers WSP, urban planner and community consultation facilitator Kevin Murray and Prof Stuart Gulliver of Glasgow University.

Professor John Goddard, deputy vice-chancellor of Newcastle University, said: 'We have recruited an excellent team which brings together experts with international standing in economic development, urban design and knowledge transfer from science to business.

'They will play a key role in guiding the development of a site which is of critical importance to the future of the university, the city and the region.'

EDAW was chosen from a shortlist of four consortia which had been derived from 90 initial expressions of interest when the notice for master planning and business modelling was placed in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in August 2005.

The other short listed consortia were Llewelyn Davies Yeang of Newcastle, London-based Farrells and Newcastle-based Red Box Design Group.

Pat Ritchie, director of strategy and development at One NorthEast, said: 'This is a multi national consortium with a proven track record of delivery and also strong links to the region.

'EDAW were master planners behind the award-winning Grainger Town project that spearheaded the dramatic restoration of the historic heart of Newcastle, effectively doubling the residential population of the area and providing offices to attract 2000 new jobs.'

The selection panel was made up of representatives from the three partners who jointly own the brewery site – Newcastle City Council, regional development agency One NorthEast and Newcastle University.

The panel based its decision on the applicants’ understanding of the brief; professional team and resources; proposed project methodology and relevant experience of high calibre projects.

Pictured above is an example of EDAW's work in Nottingham (courtesy of Martine Hamilton Knight - A Hopkins development, part of the EDAW-led consortium).

This press release is based on one issued by Newcastle City Council

NOTES TO EDITORS

EDAW is an international multi-disciplinary practice specialising in regeneration, masterplanning and design. The firm has 32 offices worldwide with UK offices in Manchester, London and Edinburgh.

With professionals in the disciplines of planning, urban design, landscape architecture and economic development the consultancy is known for its work in the redevelopment of Manchester City Centre after the 1996 IRA bombing, designing Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester, creating a vision for Blackpool along with the redesign of its Promenade and leading the team to deliver a regeneration framework for the Lower Lea Valley to support London’s bid for hosting the Olympic Games in 2012.

In August 2003 a design team led by EDAW was appointed by the London Development Agency to prepare a visionary Olympic plan for the Lower Lea Valley where London has now been selected to host the 2012 Olympics. The designs illustrate how London will stage the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and guide the transformation of the area after the Games to form a new quarter of London. Preliminary work has already begun on site.

EDAW is currently involved in the masterplanning of the 2012 London Olympic Games but more locally has worked on the Benwell Scotswood area action plan; and the award-winning Grainger Town project.

Their appointment is subject to the approval of the city council’s procurement committee which meets at the civic centre on Monday, November 20.

Master planning the brewery site will begin as soon as the contract is signed between EDAW and the three partners and is expected to be complete next summer. It is hoped that building work will start on site at the end of next year.

Newcastle was designated a Science City by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in December 2004 along with York and Manchester. Three further cities were later designated the same status.

Some of the other key stakeholders involved in Newcastle Science City are the housing market renewal pathfinder Bridging NewcastleGateshead, the International Centre for Life, Durham University, and Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and NetPark, County Durham.