A new Mayoral Development Zone has been announced for Newcastle and Gateshead, marking one of the most ambitious regeneration programmes in the UK.
The initiative, unveiled by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness and the North East Combined Authority Cabinet at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle, is set to unlock hundreds of millions in investment, create thousands of jobs, and deliver major housing and community developments.
The MDZ will focus on strategically important sites along the River Tyne, including:
- Forth Yards in Newcastle – with plans for 2,500 new homes
- Gateshead Quays
- Additional sites identified in the North East Devolution Deal, Trailblazer Deal, and Investment Prospectus
This collaborative approach aims to accelerate regeneration, improve connectivity, and deliver long-term economic and social benefits for local communities.
The MDZ will be guided by a new Strategic Regeneration Framework, outlining a 20-year vision that aligns with the Local Growth Plan and Spatial Development Strategy. It will unify existing and emerging priorities, ensuring coherent planning and delivery across the region.
Mayor McGuinness emphasised her commitment to creating high-quality jobs, affordable housing, and inclusive opportunities for local people. The model could be replicated in other parts of the North East, building on regeneration already underway in areas like Sunderland Riverside and the Durham Business Innovation District.
Commented on the development zone, North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said:
“Like many local people, I get frustrated about developments taking far too long to deliver which means we don’t fully feel the benefit of schemes as quickly as we should. This needs to change. The creation of our new Mayoral Development Zone will help to bring in major new investment and quicken development of local schemes so that we can get on with delivering our vision and bold plans to transform the North East.
“We want to boost jobs, attract new business and bring in major private sector investment to support the work we’re already doing to grow our high streets, business parks and our rural and coastal areas. We want to create better places for people to live and thrive, and this initiative will accelerate our ability to do this.
“I am confident the creation of the new Mayoral Development Zone will radically speed up the pace of development and can assure people that there will be real visible change in the coming years.”
The MDZ represents a powerful new tool for delivering regeneration at scale, bringing together national, regional and local partners to shape the future of the North East. The formal boundaries of the zone are yet to be defined but will include central neighbourhoods on both sides of the Tyne.
Image credit: iStock
