Clouston Group Delivers New Visionary FE Campus for the North East

Urban regeneration company, Clouston Group, has delivered a further 40,000 sq ft of prime commercial space at its flagship, mixed-use scheme in the heart of Newcastle upon Tyne, having officially handed over one of the North East’s newest, multi-million pound educational establishments.

Set to significantly benefit thousands of the region’s young people for years to come, developer Clouston Group has officially handed over the new, visionary North East Futures University Technical College (UTC) at Stephenson Quarter, a strategic, ten acres regeneration site providing superior commercial, social, leisure and retail accommodation in a location of significant historical importance.

The new £12 million campus is unique in being the only new-build conservation project in Newcastle to be approved by Historic England without recommended planning modifications. It will now accommodate up to 600 students per annum aged 14-19 years old, including the very first intake of learners who started in October.

Richard Clouston, CEO of Clouston Group, said,

“We are delighted to have delivered the new UTC building and played such a pivotal role in its development, from initial concept with ESFA backing through to construction and final completion. The campus has been thoroughly designed to support, benefit and enhance the opportunities for young people, and its location in the heart of the city centre will maximise links between education and the wider business community.

“From inception, our intention has been to incorporate a diverse blend of uses to act as a catalyst for one another. By having education, hospitality, the arts, business and conservation all integrated into one site, we have transformed the area into an energetic and welcoming quarter of the city employing circa 3,000 people.”

A specially-appointed team, including construction partner, Galliford Try, leading planning and development consultancy, Lichfields and Newcastle-based, Xsite architects, was appointed by Clouston Group to deliver North East Futures’ UTC campus. Bespoke in concept and design, the modern building includes state-of-the-art learning facilities, vibrant social spaces, fit-for-purpose classroom environments and ergonomic study zones, and was sensitively delivered to preserve and incorporate many historic features.

The unique design also included approximately 10,000 sq ft of conservation space, integrating the remains of The Hawthorn Engineering Works, dating back to the Industrial Revolution, into the new building. Specially-sourced materials were also used to create visually-appealing, internal and external areas as part of masterplan proposals for Stephenson Quarter, once home to the world-renowned Robert Stephenson & Co locomotive works (established 1823).