Get Carter car park demolition could start soon Jun 18 2010
by Peter McCusker
Evening Chronicle
AFTER a 10-year wait, the revamp of Gateshead town centre has moved closer. The demolition of the Get Carter car park could begin within weeks.
The news comes after supermarket giant Tesco signed an agreement with Gateshead Council on a £50m-plus town centre redevelopment.
In its place, the regeneration of Gateshead town centre will see the development of a 100,000sqft Tesco supermarket, around 40 small shops, accommodation for over 1,000 students, a new car park, public space, restaurants and cafes.
Tesco is expected to submit a planning application for the development of the 3.5 hectare Trinity Square site in the coming weeks.
This will have to be approved by Gateshead Council.
But work to demolish the prominent Gateshead town centre structure, made famous in the 1971 film Get Carter starring Michael Caine, is expected to begin within three weeks.
Gateshead Council leader Coun Mick Henry said: “This agreement brings with it the confidence of one of the UK’s most significant investors – which will hopefully trigger further development.
“It is hoped that this will turn Trinity Square into a vibrant centre that meets the long-held aspirations of Gateshead people.
“Gateshead town centre has been in need of regeneration for some time and we’ve sought research and recommendations over recent years on how we should go about delivering a town centre that will be a great place for visitors and local people.
“This agreement follows careful but complicated negotiations in which we have both taken into consideration economic change, changes in shopping habits, how and when people travel and what they expect from visiting an urban centre.
“Our ambition is for a development that would offer more facilities than simply replacement retailing and have a major impact on the regeneration of the town centre – we hope to receive a planning application soon.”
Spenhill, the regeneration subsidiary of Tesco, announced it had reached an agreement with the council yesterday.
Doug Wilson, corporate affairs manager for Spenhill, said: “The development agreement signals our confidence in the future prosperity of Gateshead.
“Our proposals will include a range of facilities with new public spaces, shops, student housing, offices, a new town centre car park and a Tesco store. This will transform Trinity Square into somewhere that the people of Gateshead can be proud of and want to visit.”
Yesterday’s announcement follows the launch of the 1PLAN this week – a 20-year masterplan for Newcastle and Gateshead that sets out a vision to improve the area’s competitiveness, where business can grow and flourish and drive forward economic development.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/north-east-news/evening-chronicle-news/2010/06/18/get-carter-car-park-demolition-could-start-soon-72703-26679070/
Don't hold your breath. I'm just saying...
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