Former hospital to be transformed under £500m plan

The new neighbourhood will combine residential homes with research labs

A former hospital will be transformed in to a £500m neighbourhood focused on ageing and living well.

Newcastle's old General Hospital in the city's West End will be turned into what is described as the UK's first health innovation neighbourhood.

Newcastle City Council approved Newcastle University's plans for the site, which will contain research labs, education spaces and new homes.

The university said the development aimed to find solutions to health and social issues that will benefit people "in the North East and beyond".

The 10-year development was recently awarded funding through the North East’s trailblazer devolution deal, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It willl include homes, supported living units and specialist accommodation for people living with dementia and traumatic injuries.

Newcastle General Hospital as it looked in 1998

The masterplan includes research research and innovation facilities; business, employment and education space; NHS facilities, new homes, transport hubs and shops.

Newcastle University president Prof Chris Day said it would tackle "major health and social challenges with the aim of identifying solutions that will benefit people here in the North East and beyond".

Council director of investment and growth, Michelle Percy, said the 29-acre brownfield site had "looked relatively underused" since the hospital closed.

"I am pleased that it is destined to become a new part of the city with pioneering place-making and be brought back to life with a mixed-use, balanced development that will boost the economy and create good quality jobs," she said.

The university is working to develop the project with Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd - a joint venture between real estate firm Kajima and developer Genr8 Developments.

The plans first came before the council two years ago but were never formally signed off as the university was asked to provide more detail and resolve issues about its impact on the city's transport network.