Gateshead Riverside Park
Tyne & Wear
Set in a remarkable city centre location, this is the place where healthy lifestyles, breathtaking views, monumental industrial heritage, a hidden past and great river all come together in nature.
The wooded south bank of the Tyne, once the Gateshead Sculpture Park with installations by world renowned artists such as Andy Goldsworthy, had become progressively unloved, overgrown and carried the fear of antisocial behaviour.
Seeking to bring back life, Carwyn Thomas helped develop a concept and Colour were appointed by Gateshead Council to create a vision, spatial delivery plan and masterplan. We put together and led a highly experienced and innovative multidisciplinary team that progressively developed thinking, the brief, funding, engagement to understand local residents’ aspirations and fears and now have designed the first moves in the economic and ecological regeneration and urban identity of Gateshead.
The extensive public consultation programme drew a strong and insightful response from the local people with a strong mandate for leisure and recreation; art, heritage and culture, food and drink – set within nature.
The Riverside Park is truly a catalyst and has attracted over £3.5m of investment to date. Spin off projects include:
3 destinations within the park designed by Colour and ready for implementation
Ever growing connectivity with the park part of the Tyne Derwent Way a 9-mile route to the National Trust’s Gibsid
High quality housing for the local community submitted for planning in 2026 at Clasper Village
Downgrading one of the great barriers between Gateshead and its Riverside – Askew Road from dual to single carriageway with a new avenue and cycle route.
CLIENT Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council STAKEHOLDERS National Trust Environment Agency Newcastle Gateshead Initiative Rural Design Centre Newcastle Gateshead Imitative Newcastle University Northumbria University TEAM GT3 Architects SHED Desco OS Ecology Milestone STATUS first phases to be submitted for planning approval LOCATION Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
CLIENT Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council STAKEHOLDERS National Trust Environment Agency Newcastle Gateshead Initiative Rural Design Centre Newcastle Gateshead Imitative Newcastle University Northumbria University TEAM GT3 Architects SHED Desco OS Ecology Milestone STATUS first phases to be submitted for planning approval LOCATION Gateshead, Tyne & Wear
