The North East mayor has confirmed that “constructive” discussions have taken place with Reform UK regarding the long-stalled Gateshead Quayside arena project, following recent public disagreements with the town’s new council leadership.
Background of the Dispute
Labour mayor Kim McGuinness and Reform leader of Gateshead Council Nick Allan previously clashed after Allan described the heavily delayed Quays vision as a “vanity project.” He warned that his administration would not support the scheme unless the mayor presented a “better argument and better financial package.” McGuinness had earlier pledged £24 million to help move the development forward.
Positive Dialogue
Despite earlier tensions, both sides now report a more cooperative atmosphere. Speaking at a North East mayoral authority cabinet meeting, McGuinness emphasized that the modern concert venue “still needs to be delivered” to prevent major artists like Taylor Swift from bypassing the region. She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “I have had a really constructive conversation with Coun Allan about how we move that project forward. We know we need to do something about Gateshead Quays, we know this project has dragged on for far too long.”
She added that public reaction has reaffirmed the desire for the arena, saying: “The reaction to recent stories and headlines about it from people has been to really reiterate that this is exactly the level of ambition that people want to see.”
Allan’s Concerns and Response
Coun Allan had previously raised several issues, including accessibility for Gateshead residents, the risk of the arena being “inferior” to the nearby Utilita Arena (slated for £65 million in upgrades), and concerns that concertgoers might spend money in Newcastle rather than Gateshead. However, he stated on Wednesday: “We have met with the regional mayor and the developers. We have agreed to work together in the interests of the residents of Gateshead. No decisions have been made at this point, we want what is best for the economic and social development for Gateshead Quays and the borough.”
Project Details and Delays
The proposed arena, with a capacity of up to 15,000, is planned for the derelict land between the Glasshouse music centre and Baltic art gallery. Delays have been attributed to Brexit, Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, and rising energy and raw material costs. A publicly funded £23 million multi-storey car park has been built on Hawks Road, but construction on the arena itself has not started. The original vision has been scaled back, dropping plans for an international conference centre.
Next Steps
The mayoral authority aims to procure an investor-operator for the arena by the end of this year, with several major companies expressing interest. The additional £24 million is intended to progress infrastructure works that will “derisk” the project.
