A North-East theatre company is investing more than £10m in a riverside commercial development to help it survive future grant and funding cuts.
Newcastle’s 1973-founded Live Theatre has so far spent millions of pounds buying up buildings and land adjacent to its Quayside venue. In the first speculative office scheme to start on the city’s River Tyne frontage for more than seven years, it now intends to convert the properties into 14,000 sq ft of new office space.
Designed by Flanagan Lawrence, the Live Works project — which involves the refurbishment of a Grade II listed alms house, the only one of its kind in the North of England — will offer individual suites from 1,234 sq ft, but could be sold as a self-contained headquarters building.
In its brochure the Newcastle architectural practice says the main building will consist of two floor plates of roughly 2,368 sq ft column-free space mirrored across a central core with each floor receiving natural light from multiple aspects.
“There are a number of outdoor spaces staggered across the scheme,” it adds, “providing break out spaces with views of All Saint’s Church and the suite of alms houses adjoining the site to the north; and views of the Sage Gateshead, the River and the Tyne and Millennium Bridges to the south.”
Jim Beirne is the theatre company’s chief executive. “As well as new build offices there will be a public landscaped garden at the centre of the site with public pedestrian access from the Quayside and a public and performance space managed and programmed by Live Theatre,” he said.
“Already a leader in the field of cultural entrepreneurship, Live Theatre has developed new strategies for increasing income and assets for the charity demonstrating future thinking on new models of business sustainability and growth.”
To market its Live Works scheme the theatre company has hired property consultants Knight Frank, which also has offices on Newcastle’s Quayside. “We are incredibly excited to be involved in such a superb development,” admitted office agency partner, Patrick Matheson.
“Live Works will deliver highly desirable premium office space with terraces offering river views to the south, and equally stunning views to the north, over the new courtyard and on towards the historic Trinity Chare and Trinity Church.
“The office space will be ready for occupation later this year and is being finished to the very highest standard. The interior styles, finishes and lighting will reflect the Live Works cultural roots and will offer exceptional space for business,” added Matheson.
Live Works is supported by the North East European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Arts Council England and Newcastle City Council. Further grants have been secured from a number of trusts and foundations.
