Science Central, Newcastle upon Tyne

English: Science Central (www.newcastlesciencecentral.com) 54.973162°N 1.625783°W / 54.973162; -1.625783 is a proposed area of mixed use development in the city of Newcastle upon Tyne. A partnership between Newcastle City Council and Newcastle University, it is part of the Newcastle Science City initiative (www.newcastlesciencecity.com).

Location

Science Central is located on the west side of the city centre, to the south west of the St James' Park football stadium, utilising the majority of land cleared through the demolition of the former brewery site^B. The boundaries of the Science Central site are:

• Pitt Street (north)
• Wellington Street (north east)
• Buckingham Street/Diana Street (west)
• Westgate Road (south)^W
• St. James' Boulevard (east)

The site will also retain most of Corporation Street which runs across the south west corner of the site, with the east end converted to a public open space. ^B - the Science Central site doesn't cover the whole of the former brewery site - in between Wellington Street and the football stadium are the high rise blocks of Downing Plaza, completed between 2011 and 2014, which were the first new developments built on the former brewery site. ^W - the site only extends to the rear alleys behind the shops and housing on the north side of the major thoroughfare of Westgate Road.

Geothermal project

Before construction of the Science Central site, in February 2011 the university commenced a project designed explore the potential of the site as a source of geothermal energy. In Spring/Summer 2011 a bore hole was drilled 1,812m down, which succeeded in finding hot water.

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  23 June 2011
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  23 June 2011
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  23 June 2011
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  23 June 2011
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  27 June 2011
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  27 June 2011

Construction

Enabling works began in Autumn 2012, with construction on the first building, Block 1C, a SW-NE aligned rectangular block 54.972497°N 1.623466°W / 54.972497; -1.623466 (approximate) with its NE end fronting onto Wellington Street, being under way by Summer 2013 (foundations complete), due for completion in Autumn 2014.