Pilgrim Street
Pilgrim Street is a key quarter of Newcastle’s urban core and is one of the most strategically important city centre regeneration sites in the north of England and is the catalyst for further investment throughout the city centre.
The project covers three city blocks along the eastern side of Pilgrim Street; Pilgrim’s Quarter to the north, the old Fire and Police station to the centre of the street and Pilgrim Place to the south which will provide a vibrant mix of uses including retail, leisure, hotel, residential, workspace, restaurants, cafes and bars. Once completed, the scheme is expected to deliver over 15,000 direct jobs and 3,500 indirect jobs, and contribute £5m+ of business rates and over £300m pa GVA to the local economy.
Bank House, the 12-storey, 120,000 sq ft (11,150 m2) Grade A office building will complete in Spring 2023, providing a best-in-class workplace and will be the first high-rise office space in Newcastle city centre. Approximately 25% is already let and there is significant interest in the remaining space. To the immediate north of Bank House, work has already started to convert the Grade II Listed Worswick Chambers into a destination food and beverage offer extending over three floors and 45,000 sq ft (4,180 m2). Work is expected to complete in time for Christmas 2024.
To the east of Bank House and Worswick Chambers, preparatory works have also been undertaken for Pilgrim Place, a Grade A office development of 263,700 sq ft (24,500 m2) sitting above underground car parking. Discussions are ongoing with prospective tenants with a view to commencing work in 2024 and completion in 2027.
The former fire station and police station, occupying the central city block on Pilgrim Street will be home to a new 5-star boutique hotel, which will also accommodate restaurant and bar offers. Work is about to commence on this 56,780 sq ft (5,725 m2) Grade II Listed building, which is also expected to complete in late 2024.
Finally, to the northern end of Pilgrim Street, work is well underway on the HM Revenue and Customs regional centre, which forms part of the Government Hub network and will accommodate approximately 9,000 HMRC staff. The Newcastle building will be the largest of HMRC’s 13 regional centres at 462,850 sg ft (43,000m2) and marks an important step in the department’s wider transformation agenda. Demolition and enabling works commenced in late 2021 and early 2023 has seen the new cores rising above the city roofscape. The completed building will incorporate the Grade II Listed façade of Carliol House, which is currently the largest façade retention in the country, with a significant steel structure temporarily supporting the Portland stonework. Works will complete at the end of 2025, following which HMRC will progress its fit-out and start operating in 2027.
These developments are owned and developed by the Reuben Brothers group of companies, who have also invested heavily across the city centre via Monument Mall, Central Exchange and, most recently, some prime retail on Grainger Street. The Reuben Brothers group of companies also own and have invested in Newcastle racecourse and both Newcastle and Sunderland greyhound stadia.
For further information contact the Invest team on +44 (0)191 440 5761 or invest@ngi.org.uk.