North East Buildings at Risk

Buildings at Risk

Newcastle

The east Pilgrim Street area in the City Centre is at imminent risk of ‘regeneration’ and contains the following notable buildings:

Odeon Cinema (formerly Paramount), (T. Verity and Samuel Beverley, 1931) – This splendid art deco building was Grade II listed in 2000 before being controversially de-listed by DCMS in 2001, following an appeal by the building's then owners.  It currently lies gutted of its impressive Charles M. Fox interiors and awaiting its doom. 

Dex Garage, (Leonard J. Couves and Partners, 1931) – The often overlooked and somewhat hidden art deco-style car park/garage was designed in 1930 and opened a year later.  The architects’ previous major project in Newcastle had been the 1924-28 Carliol House on Market Street (under the lead architects Tait, Burnet and Lorne) which is now listed at Grade II.  An extension to the South-East end of the Dex Garage was constructed in 1970 when the new multi-storey office building on Market Street was built. This was designed by Fitzroy Robinson Architects of London, who also designed the Bank of England building at the bottom of Pilgrim Street. 

Bank of England (former), (Fitzroy Robinson, 1970) – This distinctive Brutalist building could also be pulled down and cleared, with sites used as car parks in the ‘short term’.  Aukett Fitzroy Robinson is now one of the top ten architectural practices in the UK with offices all over the world.

Gateshead

Derwent Tower (a.k.a. Dunston Rocket), (Owen Luder and Partners, 1971) – Owen Luder anticipated the demolition of his car park would be like Gateshead losing its “two front teeth”, and he was right.  Razed to the ground late last year, there is now a conspicuous absence on the south side of the Tyne.  This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the film that made the building famous, Mike Hodges’ Get Carter, and the car park is being commemorated in the celebrations being held at the Tyneside Cinema. 

Whilst bits of the car park’s concrete are being sold off by the council for £5.00 per lump, Gateshead is bracing itself for another tremendous loss – that of the superb and unique rocket-shaped tower block Derwent Tower, which was turned down for listing last year.  The building stands empty and a contract for demolition is currently being sought.

Some other key buildings in the Regional Groups:

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  Key Building

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  Key Building 2