Silicon Alley - Newcastle's Urban Televillage

North East Workspace

Developing managed workspace

North East Workspace Ltd (NEWS) has refurbished some 8,680 square metres to provide nearly 200 units across nine sites, together with an additional 1,500 square metres of exhibition and conference facilities and 300 square metres of 'telecottages'.

Whilst NEWS is always happy to offer leases for any period, most users of our workspaces sign an easy in, easy out licence agreement, which only commits them to one month ahead. Rents range from £5 to £8psf; there is a service charge, which reflects the actual cost of the services but is typically around £4.50psf. At most sites, NEWS provides access to a range of common services including typing, fax and photocopying. Some sites offer a staffed reception and telephone answering/messaging facilities. Users are also welcome to benefit from any of the consultancy and training services offered by Project North East, NEWS's parent company.

All NEWS sites offer broadband Internet access, and co-location facilities have been developed for clients who have fully embraced the Internet Revolution..
Image of Turners Building
7 - 15 Pink lane, the old Turners building, now Northumbrian Water house, one of the site's prestigious new buildings.


Workspace premises as at January 2001:

Building Lettable space (sq ft) Units Occupancy
1 Pink Lane 10,500 21 100%
Hawthorn House 13,900 23 100%
Craft works 6,300 10 100%
Design Works 24,600 45 100%
Adamson House 13,800 29 100%
Edinburgh Buildings 5,800 28 100%
3/5 Pink Lane 4,000 10 100%
7/15 Pink Lane 12,500 27 100%
63 Westgate Road 4,000 4 100%
Total 95,400 197 100%

 

A further site is currently being developed with 8,000 sq ft of space.

Development & management of workspace

Newcastle Youth Enterprise Centre 1984-1998 Developed and managed workspace providing 23 units covering 5,000 sq ft, including a mix of retail, office and workshops targeted at young people starting in business. Now transferred activity to Old Post Office.
Design Works (Gateshead) Ltd, Felling (incorporating Craft Works) Developed 1986/8, managed 1994 - date Developed and now managing workspace providing 55 units, exhibition and conference space covering 76,000 sq ft targeted at the design industry
Pape Buildings, 1 Pink Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne 1991 - date Developed and now managing workspace providing 21 units covering 10,500 sq ft targeted at small and growing businesses
Hawthorn House, Newcastle upon Tyne 1992 - 2005 Developed and managed workspace providing 23 units covering 13,900 sq ft targeted at small and growing businesses. The site was subsequently sold to developers by the landowner
Adamson House, 65 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne 1993 - date Developed and now managing workspace providing 28 units covering 13,800 sq ft targeted at small and growing businesses
Edinburgh Buildings, South Shields. 1994 - date Developed and now managing workspace providing 28 units covering 5,800 sq ft targeted at the not-for-profit sector
Old Post Office, 3-5 Pink Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne 1997 - date Developed building to provide units for young people starting in business together with three telecottages targeting people looking for rented accommodation who want to work from home.
Turner House, 7-15 Pink Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne 1999 - date Developed and now managing workspace providing 27 units totalling 12,500 sq ft. Targets businesses working in multi-media.
63 Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne 2000 - date Developed and now managed workspace providing four units totalling 4,000 sq ft.
1-4 Forth Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne 2000 Acquired and currently being redeveloped

 

Feasibility studies

In addition to the direct provision of workspace, NEWS works with PNE Consulting Ltd to undertake feasibility studies on behalf of other organisations considering workspace development. A summary of these is provided below. We are able to advise on expected demand, budgeting, funding, etc, and to assist in the preparation of detailed business plans. We work closely with a range of other professionals who have experience in the design of multi-occupational buildings.

Vaux Breweries 1986 Project managers assessing feasibility and subsequently managing implantation of Sunderland Youth Enterprise Centre and Sunderland Enterprise Trust
Sunderland Borough Council 1990 Feasibility study for Houghton-le-Spring managed workspace.
Beamish Museum 1991 Feasibility study for 10,000 sq ft 1914 themed workspace at the European Museum of the Year.
Seaham Action Trust 1991 Review of Co-op buildings for possible re-use as managed workspace.
North Tyneside M.B.C. 1991 Assess feasibility for multi-purpose use of Wallsend Memorial Hall and Café
Darlington Business Venture 1992 Potential conversion of 10,000 sq ft building.
British Coal Enterprise 1994 Review of managed workspace potential in Shilbottle.
Chester-le-Street and Durham Enterprise Agency 1996 Re-use of redundant building for managed workspace.
Cornforth Community Centre 1998 Assess feasibility for redevelopment - currently underway.
Darlington Borough Council 1999 Undertake market study and prepare detailed business plan for proposed incubator workspace for the Morton Palms site
Grainger Town Initiative/Newcastle City Bid 2000 Strategic review into creative and cultural workspace in Grainger Town and surrounding areas.
SEDCO 2000-2002 Partnership development of business support organisation in Swaziland, as part of a larger support programme intended to build capacity
Egyptian Incubator Association 2000 Review of incubator workspace for EIA on behalf of British Council
Uganda Gatsby Trust 2001 Exploratory visit to Uganda to look at the financial planning, justification and the design and building of a trading estate.
Newcastle City Council/Bolam Coyne 2001 Examination in the viability of re-using a failed housing scheme and converting into an artist’s community.
Middlesbrough Borough Council 2001 Strategic review into creative and cultural workspace in Middlesbrough City Centre.
Northern Arts 2001 Acting as consultant in the development of Artist Studios at Durham City Millennium Project, Revision Studios, Elswick and Colbart in Ouseburn.
Middlesbrough Borough Council 2002 Strategic review of the local authority’s small business workspace portfolio.
TyneWear Partnership 2004 Feasibility of concept study on the potential for a "Creative Hub" incubator workspace development to be established in Tyne & Wear.

 

If you want to know more about the work of North East Workspace, please contact us by telephone,
within the UK on: (0191) 230 6407 or (0191) 230 6406
from overseas: +44 191 230 6407 or +44 191 230 6406

Fax: +44 (0)191 245 3785
·7-15 Pink Lane · Newcastle upon Tyne · NE1 5DW · United Kingdom ·