Genr8 Kajima Regeneration and its partnership with Newcastle University (Newcastle Genr8 Kajima) has secured planning consent for the £500 million Health Innovation Neighbourhood masterplan.
It will transform a former 29-acre general hospital site into a new neighbourhood combining high-quality housing alongside public realm allied to modern healthcare, education and community facilities that will foster research, innovation and enterprise.
The masterplan includes 350,000 sq ft of research and innovation facilities, 350,000 sq ft of business, employment and education space, 100,000 sq ft of NHS and other health-related facilities, alongside 1,250 new homes, up to 15% of which will be affordable. The residential space is intended to deliver a range of multigenerational dwellings across a variety of tenures including, co-living units, market rent, later and supported living homes and specialist housing.
Richard Ingham, Director, Genr8 Kajima Regeneration, said: “The Health Innovation Neighbourhood scheme has an ambitious vision to create a global exemplar for innovation in sustainable living and the longevity economy. We aim to develop a neighbourhood where housing, the environment, infrastructure, research, and education will drive and inform healthy living across all life stages. We are proud to be a part of a project that will ultimately help people live longer and healthier lives.”
Planned developments include a hub which would support local community needs through digitally enhanced services, including community-accessible facilities, a café, digital learning spaces, and areas for innovation, research, training, and office use. It would be designed to establish a new southern entry point and frontage on Newcastle’s Westgate Road.
The redevelopment will include two sustainable transport hubs to support the site’s new uses, public realm, and spaces allocated for business, employment and leisure. Additionally, the masterplan incorporates green corridors and envisions development plots centred around the public green heart of the site enhancing connectivity with the existing neighbouring communities through new east-west links across the site.
