Area-based regeneration: Helix, Newcastle upon Tyne

Following on from the successful impact of Creative Space’s work in Ouseburn, the company was appointed by Newcastle Science City partnership to work alongside Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University and  to plan and operate the catalytic first building for a new city centre mixed use quarter that would later become known as Helix.

In 2012, Creative Space worked with academic and city stakeholders to define a target market for the first building that would align with the university’s research specialisms and create long-range messaging about the ambitions and characteristics of the wider site.

Creative Space led branding of the first building, The Core, named to create connections between future city themes of urban, digital, energy and transport.

Creative Space’s business planning unlocked commitment to develop the seven storey 5,000sm landmark building, offering 72 new workspaces ranging from 18sm up to 54sm let on flexible terms.

The team developed the marketing proposition for The Core, undertook pre-marketing, operationalised the team and devised a programme for the events space to develop a knowledge profile of benefit to occupiers. The building opened in October 2014, with pre-letting of 90% and went on to be awarded Best Commercial Workspace 2016 by British Council for Offices.

In 2019, Creative Space was appointed operator of The Lumen for the opening period to 2023. The Lumen is a 10,500sm office building targeted at larger occupiers. Acting on behalf of Newcastle City Council, it established the forward funding mechanism and service charge regime and introduced a range of innovative tenant engagement projects to theme in with the wider research specialisms of the Helix site.