A new £121.8 million funding package has been approved to accelerate the transformation of Quayside West at Forth Yards in central Newcastle. The investment will support essential remediation, groundworks, and infrastructure to overcome long-standing barriers that have left this prime riverside site derelict for decades despite its proximity to Newcastle Central Station and the city centre.
The business case was developed by Homes England in partnership with the North East Mayor and Combined Authority, Newcastle City Council, and Network Rail. The funding aligns with the government’s brownfield-first approach, which prioritises redeveloping disused urban land to boost housing supply, regenerate communities, and support economic growth.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness emphasised that the land, largely unused for 20 years, will be transformed into a thriving community with housing, green spaces, transport links, and shops. The funding paves the way for a development platform and the appointment of a private sector delivery partner, with procurement expected to begin soon.
Quayside West, which alone has capacity for around 1,100 homes, was acquired by Homes England in 2024 and is one of the largest parcels within the Forth Yards regeneration zone. The wider development is envisioned as a sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood and a new western gateway to the city.
Newcastle City Council leader Karen Kilgour described Forth Yards as one of the city’s most exciting development opportunities, with the potential to deliver thousands of homes, create jobs, and drive economic growth over the next 15 years. Homes England highlighted the project as a key step towards the government’s goal of building 1.5 million homes during this parliament.
The announcement follows recent progress at Forth Goods Yard, another section of the Forth Yards site, where planning is underway for 600 new homes. Combined efforts by Network Rail, Homes England, and the City Council aim to unlock a further 2,500 homes across the wider site, creating a vibrant new community for future generations.
