North East deals of the week: key contracts, acquisitions and investments

Manchester-based social impact developers Capital & Centric have acquired Gateshead ’s Old Town Hall, keeping regeneration plans for the building alive.

The property stopped being the town’s main civic building in the 1980s and has has lain mostly empty in recent years. The building - which was used for filming of the TV show Vera earlier this year - is Grade II listed and has provided a home for a number of social and cultural sector bodies in recent years while efforts have been made to find a permanent use for it. Plans for a dinosaur-themed attraction and an “Unnatural History Museum” emerged in 2018 but did not come to fruition.

Capital & Centric has acquired the site as part of plans to expand into the North East, though details on what it plans to do with the building are at an early stage.

Gateshead Council’s interim strategic director for economy, innovation and growth, Anneliese Hutchinson said: “Capital and Centric’s record of accomplishment in developing historic buildings nationwide by breathing new life into them speaks volumes and we look forward to hopefully working with them to regenerate our town centre.

“The Grade II listed building was the council headquarters for almost 120 years, before the council chamber, civic suite and most council offices relocated to the new Civic Centre in 1987. The building has latterly been in use by a few social and cultural sector bodies, but it has always been our intention to look at a more permanent solution.”

Arable farmer Bruce Martin and his firm Galagate Developments secured a seven-figure sum in moves to create new family homes in Northumberland.

The company received funding from the North East Property Fund, a programme backed by the North East Combined Authority and managed by FW Capital. Mr Martin is ploughing the funds into the construction of three stone-built conversions and five new build detached houses in Norham. The first phase of the project consists of the three conversions, due to be finished towards the end of year. Berwick based contractor MT Richardson is carrying out the construction work, with support from CSY Architects, also in Berwick.

Mr Martin, director at Galagate Developments said: “I’m an arable farmer by trade and this is our first property development scheme, which is already generating great interest. This development is in a picturesque location in the heart of Norham. Work on the site is progressing well, with a lot of interest already in the homes.

“The development is expected to be ready by the end of this year, with each conversion finished to the highest standard. I’ve also been very pleased with the support from FW Capital. Communication has been great with Tony Cullen and he’s ensured everything has run smoothly. Without their financial backing this wouldn’t be happening.”

Northumberland tech company OpenWorks Engineering secured an £80,000 grant to help build a new manufacturing and research facility to support its growth plans. OpenWorks was launched in 2015 by a team of engineers who pooled their resources and expertise to launch new counter terrorism products, including equipment which captures rogue drones and brings them to earth.

The Prudhoe-based company has since become a leader in the defence and security technology industry, with its SkyWall systems being used by a number of government authorities, militaries and private security organisations to provide close protection to the likes of airports, major infrastructure and even world leaders at summits.

The company currently employs 18 full time members of staff with plans to grow further. OpenWorks applied for the £80,000 capital grant from NSBS last November, and it has already hired three new permanent full-time members of staff. The grant has enabled OpenWorks to build a new manufacturing and research facility, with new capabilities it says “would not have been possible without the funding”.