Pottery Lane, Newcastle

Pottery Wharf apartments

Newcastle

Colour worked closely with Olympian, Todd Architects and Newcastle City Council to obtain a detailed planning approval for 522 high quality Build to Rent apartments at the gateway to Newcastle by train, close to the city centre and perched above the Tyne Gorge with new connections to the picturesque strategic riverside walk and views of the river and iconic bridges.

Set on the industrially significant Pottery Lane, the site has only remnants of its former built context, but is adjacent to the Grade II listed King Edward Railway bridge and stone wall and arches of the former Forth Banks Goods Station. The proposed development was detailed to be respective of its historic context, benefits from looking out at these features. Colour incorporated the rich industrial history that into the site branding and wayfinding strategy. For instance it was the location of the former Newcastle Wrestling Ground which up until the 1870s hosted the annual ‘Easter Wrestlings’ attracting thousands of spectators.

This new residential setting in Newcastle benefits from:

Improved street frontage onto Pottery Lane with tree planting to green the street and showcase of the historic arches on the north side of Pottery Lane;
Provide a new sequential route along the eastern and southern edges of the development to connect Pottery Lane in the north east with Shot Factory Lane and Skinnerburn Road in the south west.
Make the most of the commanding location to create a destination and showcase the architecture and improve the gateway into this part of the city.
Integration of Sustainable Urban drainage systems into the carpark in the form of permeable parking and court yards as raingardens and swales.
South facing private courtyards for the residents to provide access to outdoor space for all.
Orientation of the built form to accentuate north south visual links from the city to the River. Views through the woodland to the River to be increased through strategic thinning of the woodland and good woodland management practices.
Strategic planting design to the corners of the building to aid with wind mitigation
Woodland management to better the health of the woodland and increase biodiversity and seasonal interest.
New biodiverse planting to support ecology mitigation and create a social calming and green setting supportive of wellbeing.
The potential in the future for an active environment with opportunities to create measurability, and settings for external exercise / dance / yoga etc.

Given the sites elevated position on the banks of the Tyne gorge it also benefits from filtered views (through the existing woodland) of the River Tyne from ground level. The outlook of these views will increase for residents from the upper floors of the proposed built development.

The design team have been conscious that the elevated position of the site also makes the site more sensitive to key receptors and viewpoints. Considerable time and design thought has gone into planning and integrating the developments massing, form and associated landscape so that it fits comfortably within the existing city scape.

“In planning any new development, consideration should be given to the strategic views from the Old Redheugh Bridgehead, Windmill Hill’s Town Park, St Michael’s Church Byker, Northumbrian Water information board underneath the Redheugh Bridge, the Tyne and Wear Footpath and Pipewellgate Car Park.”

Forth Yards Opportunity Site Development Framework