Great British Railways HQ could be coming to Stephenson Quarter
A bid by the city is currently being finalised, with this iconic location being listed as one of the possible locations.
In an exciting new development, Newcastle is bidding to bring the new Great British Railways HQ to the city, using the Pattern Shop as its new home.
The Pattern Shop, located in Newcastle’s Stephenson Quarter, was where the industrial pioneer Robert Stephenson built his famous steam locomotives in the 1800s – the first manufacturing facility of its kind – which is what makes this location the perfect place for Great British Railways to call home.
Situated between Sussex Street and South Street on the 4.3-acre brownfield Stephenson Quarter site, the Pattern Shop will mark the first development for Stephenson Works LLP, a joint venture between Newcastle City Council and PfP igloo.
A bid by the city is currently being finalised, with this iconic location being listed as one of the possible locations. The presence of a major railway training centre in Gateshead, run by Newcastle College, also adds weight to the bid, which will see Newcastle go up against a number of towns and cities wanting to secure the jobs and influence that would come with hosting the railway HQ.
Newcastle City Council leader, Nick Forbes, said: “The north east was the birthplace of the railways. We sent locomotives all over the world from the Pattern Shop on Stephenson Quarter, so what better place to locate the headquarters of Great British Railways?
“This would create hundreds of new jobs and attract all kinds of spin-off businesses, breathing life into an underused part of the city centre and giving it a bright new future with a welcome boost for the local economy.”
John Tatham, director at PfP igloo, added: “The restoration of the Pattern Shop is such an important part of Newcastle’s heritage and Great British Railways would be the perfect occupiers for such an iconic space in the locomotive world.”
PfP igloo is proud to be working alongside Newcastle City Council on this project, restoring one of Newcastle’s hidden gems and helping it reach its maximum potential in the 21st Century, bringing benefits to the Newcastle region and the people who reside within it.”
The bid to bring the Great British Railways HQ to Newcastle is being led by Invest Newcastle and is being backed by a number of key businesses in the region.
The expression of interest is the first stage in the selection process, with the winning location being announced this summer.