Plan
The plan for the redevelopment was;
1) To have complete segregation of shoppers from vehicular traffic of all kinds
2) To encourage the car driver to bring his car to the centre
3) The provision of facilities for young children such as a nursery, playground and pram parks
4) Adequate and convenient facilities for lorries and for the general servicing of shops, disposal of rubbish etc.
Gateshead Post May 5 1961 "It will present a futuristic look and will be far in advance of anything yet undertaken in any other part of the country"
By the time the redevelopment was completed the cost had risen to £2 million pounds – the car-park making up £200k of this budget.
Chronology
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1960
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Plans first mooted for the redevelopment of the market square of Gateshead's town centre.
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April 1961
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Gateshead Council passed plans for redevelopment of part of the area bounded by High Street, Jackson Street, West Street & Ellison Street. This would mean a £1 million shopping centre including a multi story car park with rooftop restaurant. Three firms presented their proposals and the scheme submitted by Millerdale Properties was finally approved.
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1964 – 67
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Period of construction for the building. Entities involved:
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The Owen Luder Partnership: Architects
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Sir Robert McAlpine: Construction
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Gordon Rose, Rose Associates: Consulting Structural Engineer
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E.Alec Colman Investments Ltd: Property Development Company
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1967
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Market opened to the public. Car-park was still closed due to engineering work to stabilise shallow mine workings under the building.
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2nd Aug 1969
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Car park opened to the public free of charge
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Rooftop restaurant never opened reasons for this included:
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Not able to get a magistrates alcohol licence for the original intended use as a restaurant;
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Failed to get a fire certificate. The fire services argued they would never be able to get equipment up the stairs
Over the years there were a number of alternative uses put forward such as recording studio, offices. However, the owners were never able to agree terms for the letting of the space.
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1971
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40% of the retail units were let.
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Car park became a part of modern film folklore when it was featured in Mike Hodges' film 'Get Carter'
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1979
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Building already being referred to as 'Gateshead's white elephant'
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1985
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Gateshead Interchange Centre opened and made the already derelict car-park largely redundant.
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1986
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Gateshead MetroCentre opened and commercial interest in Gateshead Town Centre declined.
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1995
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Top four floors closed to the public.
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2000
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Outline planning permission given for demolition of the car park and the building of a town centre shopping complex.
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