South Shields regeneration: Holborn

Overview

The Council has been working hard to bring the Holborn Riverside area of South Shields back into use.

The area is already home to award-winning schemes such as:

New developments will transform this area further, changing former industrial land into a desirable location for residents and visitors.

These developments will also strengthen the link between the riverside and the town centre.

For more information, read the latest press release: New Wave of Riverside Regeneration Underway.

Site improvement works

In December 2021, Cabinet approved the appointment of John F Hunt (Regeneration) Limited to carry out a range of improvement works at Holborn to help future development.

These include:

A new quay wall to replace the existing quay edge
Complete regrading of the site to solve flooding issues
Dealing with site contamination from its long industrial past
The renovation of three docks for future public enjoyment

The works started in January 2022 and are due to be completed in Spring 2025.

Development of new homes

High quality family houses and apartments will be delivered in three phases across the Holborn site.

The residential part of the development has full planning consent for 300 new homes, with high quality landscaping and a new riverside promenade for future public enjoyment.

Keepmoat Homes Ltd and Cussins (North East) Ltd will deliver a range of one to four-bedroomed houses and apartments.

To address local need, 15% of these will be affordable homes, delivered in partnership with the Bernicia Housing Group.

In January 2022, Keepmoat began developing 48 new homes as part of their first phase.

As of summer 2023, Keepmoat and Cussins began their second phase, starting works to construct the first of 144 more homes.

Restoration of the dry docks

As part of the scheme, three of the dry docks are being restored to preserve the area's industrial heritage.

The Council will be implementing marine ecology improvements in two of the docks including floating reed beds, mussel ropes and fish refuge structures.

Plans for the third dock include displaying boats restored by the North East Maritime Trust.

A new riverside promenade will also be built to open this stretch to the public for the first time in over 100 years.

Government funding

This major riverside regeneration project had been awarded:

£1.85 million in government funding from the Brownfield Land Release Fund, and
£9.4 million from the North East Local Enterprise Partnership

This is to help deliver new office space as part of the Government's Enterprise Zone programme.

The funding will be used:

for civil engineering works needed to prepare the site for development
to assist the construction of around 300 new homes
to assist the construction of around 200,000 square foot of Grade A office accommodation