East Pilgrim Street

As part of the most strategically important city centre regeneration project in the north of England, East Pilgrim Street offers an iconic arrival point as approaching Newcastle upon Tyne from across the Tyne Bridge, with the historic city centre beyond.

Working with Newcastle City Council, the site owners, Taras Properties, and other stakeholders, Okana partner Ryder, was appointed to deliver a city centre transformation masterplan. In collaboration with end users and tenants, the team created a series of connected development projects. Each bespoke development was designed to the requirements of the end user whilst fitting into the overall framework of the site. Specifically, East Pilgrim Street covers three city blocks connecting the city’s urban core and central conservation area.

The key buildings that make up the site of East Pilgrim Street represent both an opportunity and a challenge. Their historic value and original purposes needed to influence the overall masterplan whilst benefitting from its new vision. In addition, the new buildings had to effectively balance the need for aspirational workplaces with the desire for inspiring public spaces.

The mixed use site has been designed as a leisure and business destination, with a strategy to encourage increased pedestrian and cycle movement. The open spaces between buildings are flexible and can be used as venues for a range of activities such as market stalls, street food vendors and street performances. The plan is to create accessible places, where people want to spend time and socialise.

As part of the development, Bank House, completed in 2023, overlooks the Tyne Bridge and provides 12,000sqm of office space. Its unimpeded column free space enjoys good natural daylight and dramatic views across the city skyline. Centrally, the larger scale North East Government Regional Hub will bring 4,500 HMRC staff daily into an accessible city centre 463,000sqm site. Both buildings were designed and delivered by the team.

With city centre use in flux, the masterplan needed to be adaptable while simultaneously and sensitively energising this key historic hub. Despite this challenge, the masterplan is already bringing new life, new jobs and new opportunities to the city centre. The vision has come together to serve all stakeholders, especially those who live, work and enjoy the city.

Completion of the site by the end of the decade will reinvigorate the city and its streetscapes further enhancing Newcastle upon Tyne’s regional capital status.