Reuben Brothers ramp up plans for new Monument Mall shops and rooftop restaurant
Brunswick Place is also said to be 'ideal for street food and a marketplace environment'
by Coreena Ford · ChronicleLiveThe Reuben Brothers have stepped up plans to revamp the former Sports Direct store to create new shops and a rooftop bar and restaurant.
The billionaire real estate entrepreneurs bought the Monument Mall two years ago, in a reported £37m deal through its investment company Motcomb Estates. Tenant Sports Direct left the building this summer, paving the way for a major investment programme at the property, which has housed retailers including Burtons and Woolworths during its long history.
Now Taras Properties, the development arm of the Reuben Brothers’ business, has applied for planning permission to refurbish the interior of the building to create new commercial units, as well as making external changes, including creating a new top floor to host a large leisure area with a bar and restaurant overlooking the Monument and Northumberland Street.
Read more: First look at £65m leisure redevelopment at Newcastle's Eldon Square
Read more: Fenwick bid to revamp Newcastle shopfront approved as part of major Northumberland Street overhaul
Brunswick Place, which runs around the back of the mall, is also set for a makeover amid moves to transform it from a shortcut into a destination with stalls and more decorative lighting. Ryder Architecture and Avison Young have submitted documents to the council’s planners, highlighting the ambitions of the project.
In a design document, Newcastle-based Ryder Architecture says: “The proposal adds an additional 390sqm of internal space through a single storey roof extension over the existing Sports Direct building on the corner of Brunswick Place and Northumberland Street.
“Brunswick Place provides an opportunity to introduce active frontage to both Monument Mall and Fenwick department store opposite. As an alternative route between Monument and Northumberland Street, it would be ideal for street food and a marketplace environment. Proposals are currently being developed by Fenwick for a planning application submission.
“There is an opportunity to further enhance the street frontage by facing the entrances to the basement and upper floor food and beverage developments within Monument Mall towards Brunswick Place.
“We recognise that any city centre development should design out crime and eliminate the fear of crime. In response our proposals look to activate Brunswick Place with new shop front entrances, lighting and signage. The proposals also look to remove the existing refuse bins, taking these off the street and providing secure storage both internally and externally. We have engaged with Fenwicks, who are developing complementary proposals, and the city council who are proposing upgrades to the public realm in this area as part of the City Centre Transformation programme. As a combined offer this will activate the street to pedestrians and through management and supervision, we hope to create a safe public space.
“The new spaces at the top of Monument Mall provide for a new commercial unit which may be suited to a food and beverage operator. The design allows for a combination of space across the upper two floors. The basement level commercial unit is likely to be suited to a competitive socialising offer, alongside leisure activities.
“At ground level, the commercial unit is likely to be a retail or banking taking advantage of the shop front and footfall along Northumberland Street.”
A planning statement by Avison Young adds: “The proposed development will deliver economic benefits across its construction and operational phases; including the creation of construction jobs, indirect and induced jobs throughout the supply chain per year of construction, direct GVA for each year of construction, full-time and part-time equivalent jobs when the unit(s) are occupied following construction and fit-out, further indirect jobs in local services and other firms in the surrounding area, and ensure the refurbishment and enhancement of Monument Mall - a key part of Newcastle’s city centre and primary shopping area.
“Overall, the proposal has been designed to carefully consider the importance of the Central Conservation Area and its surrounding heritage assets. The external proposals will enhance the immediate streetscape of Northumberland Street and Brunswick Place, while bringing a significant amount of city centre accommodation back into use as a prominent leisure asset within Newcastle city centre.”
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