£600m deal for Beazer and Bryant

Housebuilders Beazer and Bryant, partners in the consortium promoting Newcastle Great Park, are almost certain to get the go-ahead for the £600m-plus scheme.

A promise by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott not to intervene in the outline planning application for the 485ha greenfield site situated to the north of the city means that the decision now rests with Newcastle City Council.

As there is little doubt that the council will give the scheme the green light, the consortium will now be able to progress with its plans to create a 80ha business park together with 2,500 homes and leisure facilities. Work is expected to start within the next six to 12 months.

The new housing will be built on 117ha of land over the next 12 years but, in a ground breaking legal agreement with developers, new building will be linked to the regeneration of inner city areas. By ensuring that the consortium builds a minimum of two new homes on inner area brownfield sites for every one in the Great Park, the scheme conforms to latest government guidance on sustainable development.