Entertainment hub planned for city shopping centre

A CGI vision of plans for a new outdoor terrace at Eldon Square shopping centre

An empty section of a Newcastle shopping centre could be turned into a new family leisure entertainment hub.

Plans to redevelop a part of Eldon Square into a space that could house bowling and indoor go-karting have been submitted to Newcastle City Council.

A rooftop terrace overlooking Old Eldon Square could also be added to the building on Blackett Street.

Cormac Hamilton, general manager of Eldon Square, described the plans as "genuinely exciting".

The redevelopment has been designed by Ryder Architecture, which suggested the space could be used for mini golf, batting cages, arcades, pool, electronic darts and food and drink businesses.

The shopping centre's frontage on Blackett Street will be modernised and a new ground floor entrance will also be installed, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Exciting proposals'

The top floor of the former Debenhams department store in Eldon Square is also set to be redeveloped into a separate entertainment hub.

There are plans for a venue for live music and theatre, as well as street food stalls and a microbrewery.

A section of the roof will be removed and replaced with a retractable covering for another outdoor dining space.

Cormac Hamilton, general manager of Eldon Square, said: “The community’s response to the cultural and leisure proposals has been overwhelmingly supportive, and it is great to have submitted the planning applications before Christmas.

"These are genuinely exciting proposals and we believe they will have a positive impact on Eldon Square and the city centre as a whole."

There is currently more than 240,000 sq ft (22,297 sq metres) of empty space in the shopping centre but this will be reduced by about 108,000 sq ft (10,000 sq metres) through the planned projects.