£24m investment moves Gateshead Quays arena development into delivery phase

Plans for a new arena on the banks of the Tyne have taken a major step forward, as Gateshead Quays is set to receive £24m from North East Mayor Kim McGuinness to get work started on-site.

The investment – which is subject to final approval by the Mayor and Cabinet later this month – represents a key milestone in the delivery of a proposed 12,500-15,000 capacity arena at Gateshead Quays, a flagship regeneration scheme positioned to strengthen the North East’s visitor economy, events infrastructure and wider creative industries.

The funding marks an important step in progressing the project from planning and strategic development into the infrastructure and enabling works stage, helping to unlock one of the region’s most significant waterfront development opportunities.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said: “We’re one step closer to bringing the biggest bands to the North East with a new arena at Gateshead Quays. This is a really exciting step forward for this project which will mean local people can enjoy more world-class shows right here on their doorstep.

“Our region is hugely proud of our home-grown talent like Sam Fender and Jade Thirlwall, but we need a modern arena to bring more big names to the North East. Our funding will get the site ready for the development, so people will be able to see enabling works start on-site soon. We’re speeding up developments that benefit local people and it would be amazing to see the world’s biggest bands playing on the banks of the Tyne in the near future.”

Mayor Kim’s investment forms one part of a £104m regional package designed to support the growth of the creative industries, including proposals for new film studios in Sunderland, support for smaller venues and additional investment in festivals and events across the North East.

The work will create a stand-alone platform for a new arena, delivery of Gateshead Quays public realm – including a new performance square next to The Glasshouse International Centre for Music – and a green linear park connecting the riverside to Baltic Quarter.
The project is being progressed by Gateshead Council in partnership with the North East Combined Authority and development partners Ask:PATRIZIA, who are supporting the next phase of delivery and market engagement for the site.

John Hughes, Managing Director of Ask Real Estate commented on behalf of Ask:PATRIZIA, saying: “The Mayor’s financial commitment provides the vital momentum needed for this project. Our priority now is to identify the right operator partner; we expect to engage with the international market in early April to select a world-class operator for this transformational development.”

Gateshead Quays is the first major scheme within the Newcastle-Gateshead Mayoral Development Zone (MDZ). Established last year by Mayor Kim, the new MDZ aims to quicken developments within the zone to benefit local people and places.

Leader of Gateshead Council Cllr Martin Gannon, added: “Gateshead people are at the heart of everything we’re building for the future. The huge cash boost for Gateshead Quays is not just about preparing a site – it’s about laying the foundations for a world-class arena that will put Gateshead on the map and spark new energy, confidence and opportunity across our region.

“Residents have waited a long time to see momentum, and this funding means that works will turn ambition into visible, tangible progress.

“Gateshead deserves cultural spaces that inspire, places that bring people together and investment that creates jobs and opportunities for our people. This project is a major part of delivering that future, and it reflects the ambition, pride and potential of Gateshead.”

Sage, a global technology company born and bred in the North East and a long-standing supporter of the Gateshead Quays vision, has welcomed the progress being made to move the development forward.

The funding will also support the next stage of project development, including the process to identify a commercial operator for the arena, following extensive market engagement which confirmed that at least four major arena operators have expressed interest in the site.