Works to demolish the former Civic Offices on Merrial Street, Newcastle-Under-Lyme will begin next week to make way for an £11million regeneration of the area.
Willmott Dixon have been contracted by Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council to carry out the extensive work, which will commence on 9 August and is expected to be completed by mid-June 2022.
The demolition will be the first move in radical changes to Newcastle’s townscape, funded by the Future High Street Fund (FHSF), which will see the £11million investment take place over three years.
Submitted to the government in a successful FHSF bid, the aspirational plans include a residential new-build, a new multi-storey car park, new open plazas and public space and better pedestrian and cycle connections to the residential areas at the North of the town centre whilst creating numerous employment opportunities.
The Leader of the Council, Simon Tagg, said: “Demolishing the former civic offices kicks off the long awaited redevelopment of the Ryecroft area as a first stage of the overall strategy to finally bring the site back into use, and it’s very exciting.
“Newcastle hasn’t seen this kind of government investment in living memory. Our High Street and other areas in the town will be transformed, made fit for the 21st Century, with more people living and working in the town centre and new public spaces.
“Unlike the previous failed plans to redevelop the civic offices and former Sainsbury’s site this scheme does not rely on third party investment or any student flat developments to make it happen. I can’t wait to see the work get under way.”
The Council’s Future High Streets Fund submission was endorsed by key local partners including the MP for Newcastle, Aaron Bell, Stoke and Staffs LEP, Newcastle BID and Aspire Housing.
Below are links to images of the approved Future High Street funding proposals:
Development Site 1 (PDF) Development Site 2 (PDF)
Development Site 3 (PDF) Development Site 4 (PDF)
