What is Silicon Alley?

Silicon Alley is an Urban Televillage. It is a place where residential acommodation and small business premises are located close to each other. In some cases the premises serve both functions; the residential units all have office space built in. What all the units have in common is that they are all designed for internal computer networks and external Internet access.

Silicon Alley is a city-centre site where people can live and work as part of a business community. The site houses a miriad of 'new media' firms. Their activities range from software development to digital video work, film production to graphic design, website development to advertising and PR. And they're all based in a location which positively encourages them to collaborate on projects.

Part of the site is used by the enterprise agency Project North East as a business support centre, which means that advice and assistance are close at hand for those who request it.

There are now a total of six buildings on the Silicon Alley site. However, the business "community" linked by "Big Netty" has already expanded beyond the confines of the site to encompass other properties previously developed by North East Workspace (including Design Works in Gateshead and small business premises operated by Newcastle City Council).

The site itself is very close to the Tyne and Wear Metro system and Newcastle's Central railway station. Silicon Alley lies within the urban renewal area known as Grainger Town, the historic heart of Newcastle, which contains many of the city's finest buildings.