Queensbury, Longbenton

Yuill developed this award winning £70m scheme in Newcastle upon Tyne in partnership with One North East, North Tyneside Challenge, North Tyneside Council and Mowden Park Estates.

Historically, local residents living near the estate had lost faith in the area, with many properties being vacant and crime levels and unemployment levels at a high. In addition to this, the estate’s shopping centre, owned by Mowden Park Estates, was run down and proving difficult to let.

Following widespread public consultation, we were appointed by North Tyneside Council, due to our experience in delivering urban renaissance initiatives. Working with the Council, we devised an ambitious masterplan to replace the shopping centre with a new facility, resulting in some 50,000 sq ft of floor space being completed, with businesses transferring from the old retail space. In addition, new community facilities and public realm works, including a stunning central square and boulevard, were created for the benefit of the local area.

The first homes to be released on the site sold within 24 hours and we have now completed four phases of housing, with 352 one, two and three bedroom houses and two-bedroom apartments being provided for sale.

We also provided training and employment opportunities for the local area, working closely with North Tyneside Challenge’s employment team to ensure these opportunities were long term and led to careers in the building industry which last well beyond the redevelopment of the estate.

The Queensbury development has won a whole host of awards including the prestigious RICS Renaissance Awards 2005, Best Regeneration Project, Best Community Project and Joint Project of the Year.

Jennifer Welch, regional director of RICS North East, said: “The competition was very tough but the work being carried out at Longbenton stood out as a shining example of how an area should be regenerated with an holistic approach, looking not just at property issues but at what the community needs"

Francis Lowes, senior manager within North Tyneside Council’s regeneration team, said: “The outcome of this has been an estate that is extremely popular, with some of the lowest void rates in the council stock in the borough, new houses selling rapidly, high quality of environment, a good quality shopping centre and a high level of satisfaction from residents.”

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