SOCIAL impact developers Capital&Centric have released a new image showcasing their vision to transform Gateshead’s historic Old Town Hall.

The Manchester-based developers are working with Gateshead Council to bring the building – the only surviving purpose-built Victorian town hall in Tyne and Wear – back to life.

Once the council headquarters until the chamber, civic suite and council offices were relocated to the new civic centre in 1987, the Grade II listed building and surrounding surface car parks are set to become a community of new homes.

The sketch shows how Capital&Centric are starting to reimagine the site, with plans to repurpose the Old Town Hall buildings into characterful homes, surrounded by design-led new builds, cafes, bars, restaurants and lush green spaces. The team will now work up detailed plans in consultation with local people and stakeholders.

John Moffat, joint managing director at Capital&Centric said:

“A stunning example of Victorian architecture, The Old Town Hall just oozes with history and character. Our plans will provide a new lease of life for this local landmark, repurposing it into a new neighbourhood. We’ve been busy working up a vision for the site which will see new design-led homes alongside cafes, bars, restaurants and green spaces. Set to become a thriving town-centre community, this will be a truly fitting reboot for a building that once served the people of Gateshead for years.”

Capital&Centric are well-known for their creative approach to placemaking and blending the old with the new. The Old Town Hall marks their first foray into the North East and earlier this year the developers announced that they were speaking to Gateshead Council about rejuvenating several sites in the town.

Elsewhere, the developers are continuing with the conversion of Talbot Mill, one of Manchester’s oldest and largest untouched mills, as well as creating a new HQ for their team, Neptune Mill, in the city’s up and coming Piccadilly East neighbourhood. They have also just finished repurposing a former cutlery works in Sheffield and have major brownfield projects in Liverpool, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton. They’ve also been appointed by Homes England to lead the delivery of a town centre and around 2000 homes at the Northstowe new town in Cambridge.