Newcastle’s Eldon Square makeover green lit

Newcastle City Council has approved redevelopment proposals for a former Debenhams store and Eldon Leisure Centre at Eldon Square. The decision is in line with recommendation made last week. Eldon Square, a subsidiary of Intu Debenture which was formed in 2020 following the collapse of former owner intu, owns 60% of the Eldon Square shopping and leisure complex. Newcastle City Council owns the remaining 40%. The proposals are to transform a former Debenhams store, measuring 107,000 sq ft, into a mixed-use facility, with the lower floors providing shops and the top floor serving as a food, drink, cultural, art and entertainment hub. The revamped scheme has a GDV of £65m. Two floors of the development, totalling 61,000 sq ft, have been prelet to Next on a 10-year lease.  The approval has also been granted to refresh the former Eldon Leisure Centre. The developers will convert the 120,000 sq ft facility into a leisure destination across seven floors. The scheme comprises a single large space for a regional family leisure attraction, including small shops, a go-kart track and a viewing gallery. In addition, there are some external alterations proposed for the partial removal of the roof fronting onto Blackett Street to create an outdoor terrace.