News Article

The aluminium shopfront and concrete awning that has adorned 108 -110 Grainger Street since the 70's has been removed. This is a landmark for the regeneration of Grainger Town as it has taken away the last piece of the canopy that used to run down both sides of Grainger Street. These improvements have been made possible by £25,000 award from the Grainger Town Partnership's SRB Shop Front Improvement Grant scheme and have been undertaken by Martin Craster a local developer. The upper facades have also been improved enhancing the area which has become known as the Grainger Quarter' and marketed as the Bond Street of the North with high quality fashion names such as Hobbs, Envy, Shelly's, Oasis, Karen Millen and Kookai already well established. Martin Craster said "It has been a privilege to be part of this major restoration project to enhance the unique architectural qualities of these beautiful buildings as they are amongst the country's finest. "Grainger Street has now recaptured the prestige and prime status it previously enjoyed. I am sure both the city council and Grainger Town Partnership are as proud as I am of the achievements made so far." M/F 1/2 Cont'd 2/2 Bill Midgley, Vice Chair of Grainger Town Partnership said; "Shopfronts are one of the most visible elements in the GraingerTown streetscape. During the last five years the Grainger Town Partnership has invested over £560,000 in shopfront improvements, including removal of the unsightly canopies. These improvements are helping to improve the areas retail offer and to consolidate its position as a unique shopping destination." ENDS NOTES TO EDITOR 'Grainger Town is an area of national and European architectural significance, covering 36 hectares (90 acres) in the southern part of Newcastle City centre. It has one of the highest concentrations of listed buildings in the country - 60% of the buildings are listed, of which over 20% are listed as Grade One, compared to the national average of 2.5%. 'The work of the Grainger Town Partnership is becoming increasingly acknowledged and has already received both BURA and RTPI awards in 2001 for Best Practice in regeneration. By the end of the Project's fifth year, it is anticipated that over £100m will have been invested in the Grainger Town area, including over £80m from the private sector and major contributions from One North East, English Heritage and Newcastle City Council. 'By the time of its completion the Project will have supported the creation of 2,000 jobs in the area, assisted over 200 businesses to become established, restored 75,000 square metres of floorspace, rescued around 50 buildings on the English Heritage Buildings At Risk Register and funded the development of more than 500 flats. 'For additional information please visit the Grainger Town Project website at www.newcastle.gov.uk/graingertownproject- For further information please contact: Allison Lumley, Press Officer, One North East Tel: (0191) 204 2351 Fax: (0191) 201 0179 Mob: 07801 031 094 e-mail: allison.lumley@onenortheast.co.uk www.onenortheast.co.uk www.n-e-life.co.uk