Promotional video for the Tyne & Wear Development Corporation (TWDC), presented by John Grundy, providing an overview of their urban regeneration work on Newcastle's East Quayside, with the newly named Royal Quays in North Shields and at St Peter's, Sunderland. Features Princess Diana on a visit to St Peter's Basin, Newcastle, in April 1991. Title: Transforming the Riversides 1987-1998 – presented by John Grundy John Grundy stands on the quayside at Newcastle to introduce...

Promotional video for the Tyne & Wear Development Corporation (TWDC), presented by John Grundy, providing an overview of their urban regeneration work on Newcastle's East Quayside, with the newly named Royal Quays in North Shields and at St Peter's, Sunderland. Features Princess Diana on a visit to St Peter's Basin, Newcastle, in April 1991. Title: Transforming the Riversides 1987-1998 – presented by John Grundy John Grundy stands on the quayside at Newcastle to introduce the programme. General views show some of the old derelict areas, new developments and events that have taken place along the Tyne and the Wear over recent years. A view follows of the old Pallion steel works of E Jopling & Sons Ltd with derelict land nearby. Film footage of the 1986 tall ships race is shown, the first time they had visited the Tyne. Crowds enjoy the spectacle from the quayside. As the ships leave the Tyne general views show the derelict buildings and land they would have passed as they sailed along the river. A black and white aerial photograph follows of the river Wear at Sunderland. A view follows of a ship at sea and aerial views of the Nissan factory and some of the old shipyards along the Wear. Great North Run competitors cross the Tyne Bridge. More views of derelict land follow, then an exterior view of the headquarters of the Tyne & Wear Development Corporation. Title: Tyne & Wear Development Areas A stylised map shows the development areas along the banks of the Tyne and the Wear. Title: Tyneside Coloured areas appear along the map of Tyneside Title: Wearside Similarly coloured areas show developments along the banks of the Wear. A meeting of the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation is chaired by Sir Paul Nicholson. On camera he outlines the main aims of the Corporation, and the importance of community participation to aid the regeneration of areas under redevelopment. Local union leader Joe Mills, also a member of the board, affirms that all the board members are keen to make all the projects involved in the regeneration of the Tyne and Wear riversides a success. The film changes to show extensive building work taking place on the Newcastle quayside west of the High Level Bridge. Two men look at a display of aerial photographs showing the Tyne and the Wear. One of the men is Alistair Balls chief executive of the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation. He talks on camera about the work of the TWDC. He then speaks over shots showing new developments and places of dereliction. The film changes location to an area near the buildings of Newcastle Business Park where Alistair Balls is interviewed by Stewart McNeil of Tyne Tees Television. Alistair Balls explains why the park was one of the first developments the TWDC completed. It was formerly local authority land which needed extensive preparation before building work could begin. The film shows various views of the area before development, then moves on to show the buildings making up the business park under construction, and finally the completed site. Prince Philip unveils a plaque to officially open the building park. The office developments are shown including a customer services centre for British Airways. Alistair Balls goes on to say that developing old industrial or brownfield sites requires a lot of work to bring them up to modern building specifications. An aerial view shows an outline of another city centre site. Title: Newcastle Manors Site 1988. A closer view shows part of the derelict site. This is followed by a view of another business park development under construction and the finished building. A brief view of some more derelict land is followed by houses and flats that Barratt the builders have completed at the riverside village and marina. Princess Diana is greeted by Sir Paul Nicholson, then goes on walkabout to meet with schoolchildren who stand behind barriers waving Union Jacks. At a special ceremony in Walker 1991 she opened the marina and a social housing development by revealing a plaque to commemorate the occasion. This is followed by an aerial view from 1988 of HMS Ark Royal sailing into the Tyne past some barren stretches of land near North and South Shields. Views follow of contractors clearing the contaminated land of an old tank depot. This site is where Littlehaven is built with new buildings painted in white, and at the time of filming, waiting for a hotel to be built. An artist’s impression shows the hotel which will serve the local holiday area. At South Shields a housing development is in progress at Market Dock, and the film shows work in progress. Some nearby dry docks will be used as water features. The film cuts to a platform under construction at the oil exploration yard of Aker McNulty. Another aerial view shows the Nissan roll on - roll off terminal managed by the Port of Tyne Authority. Prince Philip is reflected in a mirror as he visits a television factory at Simonside industrial estate at South Shields. Next a view of construction work at the site of the old British Steelworks at Jarrow, which will become the Viking industrial park. An aerial view shows completed factory units at the park. Views follow of Bede’s World at Jarrow with its Anglo Saxon Museum. A man at work on a barn or stable roof completes some traditional roof thatching, and schoolchildren dress in monk’s habits. An architectural model shows how a new extension to the buildings at Bede’s World will look when completed. A photograph shows the Customs House at South Shields before renovation. This is followed by footage of a building undergoing restoration and renovation, and finally the completed arts centre. Stewart McNeil and Alistair Balls walk past the front of the Customs House. On camera Alistair Balls answers Stewart McNeil’s question about the TWDC’s work in South Tyneside. An offshore construction is towed by tugs along the Tyne, then shown lit up at night. An aerial view shows the Tyne with large ships moored at various places along the river. Footage follows of the Ark Royal sailing along the Tyne in 1988 on a return visit to Swan Hunters. On the quayside ropes are placed over bollards to secure the ship. An aerial view shows planes and helicopters on deck. Another aerial view taken in 1998 shows the oil exploration vessel Solitaire sailing along the Tyne where conversion work was completed at Swan Hunters. Alistair Balls goes on to explain how conversion and refurbishment is now important work in the Tyne shipyards. The film cuts to a large number of boats and large crowds at North Shields as part of the Fish Quay Festival held in May. The next view is of North Shields fish quay on a quiet working day, with a few boats moored boat along the quayside. Views show new building developments including flats and converted buildings. A brief view shows the elegant Georgian terrace at the New Quay. The film then shows a travelling view of housing developments at the old Albert Edward dock, now known as the Royal Quays. Aerial views show the old dock area and an artist’s impression of the new development. Images follow of social unrest at the nearby Meadow Well estate. A view follows of one of the TWDC’s monitoring panels meeting to discuss the developments at the Royal Quays. Alistair Balls appears on camera again to outline this high profile development. Aerial views show partial completion of buildings and landscaping. New developments include attracting new employers including Twining’s the tea manufacturers. In front of a display board Alistair Balls explains to Stewart McNeil the reasoning behind the introduction of the Wet and Wild Water Park as part of the Royal Quays development. Footage from a television commercial follows of activities at the park. Aerial views show the extended earthworks taking place on the landscape at the Royal Quays, an area which will become Chirton Dene Park. The film shows a party being organised to celebrate the park with music and dancing. The film cuts to Redburn Dene, another landscaped area of the Royal Quays. An earlier film from 1995 shows John Grundy on camera giving his impressions of Chirton Dene. Redburn Dene is an extension to the park, and the whole complex has been given a Civic Trust award. The film cuts to a new building and a new business, the North of England Microelectronics Centre a new addition at the Royal Quays. New housing is also shown, as well as the new outlet centre and an exterior view of the new sports centre at Meadow Well. John Foster of North Tyneside Council talks favourably on camera about City Challenge funding and North Tyneside Council. The film moves to developments on the Wear as the commentary outlines the lack of development that existed in 1988.  An aerial view shows the last ships to be built at Sunderland. The red ferries built for Denmark are moored at the North Sands yard. An aerial view shows a site earmarked for a roll on, roll off ferry at North Sands that was never developed. Sir Paul Nicholson outlines the downturn that hit the area in terms of the demise of shipbuilding and closure of mines. Prince Philip is shown development plans for the River Wear by Alistair Balls. At the old site of Deptford Shipyard, Liebherr Cranes and the Shaw Furniture factory from London were two of the first companies to take up residence on the former shipbuilding yard. Title: Sunderland Enterprise Park An aerial photo shows a strip of land next to the Wear which has been developed as the Sunderland Enterprise Park. Prince Charles in 1988 takes the controls of a mechanical digger to break the ground for the new development. An aerial photograph shows Hylton Colliery which used to occupy the site. Spoil below the surface of the site was still burning and land scrapers are seen in action shaving off tons of smouldering spoil, mainly coal, to prepare the site for building.  A roadside sign reads: ‘Hylton Park’ and some of the buildings built on the enterprise park are now occupied with businesses such as ‘Applied Imaging’, and J-L. Automation. General views show other new buildings occupied by new businesses. The Sunderland City Training and Enterprise Council has established a new centre. General views show a number of other new buildings helping to create three and a half thousand new jobs. A view from the opposite bank of the Wear shows the extent of the buildings now occupying the business park. A roadside notice reads: ‘Sunderland Enterprise Park – Offices, Production Units, Retail Centre, Nature Park’ A view follows from old footage of the remains of the Pallion Steel Works of E. Jopling and Son. An up to date view shows an extensive housing estate occupying the site, with access to its own surgery and pharmacy. An aerial view shows a derelict dock area on the river. Views follow of the buildings built by the University of Sunderland which occupy the extensive St Peters campus next to the river. Footage from 1993 shows building work in progress. Dr Egon Klepsch, President of the European Parliament, lays a foundation stone on the site. Dr Anne Wright, Vice Chancellor of the University, speaks on camera in 1993, praising the quality of the newly built student accommodation as seen on the opposite bank of the river. General views show students milling around the new campus, student accommodation and other university buildings. The film cuts to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh’s visit to Sunderland and the unveiling of a sculpture, which commemorates the region’s links with the Venerable Bede. School children line the route the Queen and the Duke will take during their visit. A view follows of an illuminated page from an old book. The Queen talks to the sculptor Colin Wilbourn. The film shows him working on one of his other sculptures, which feature in walkways in other parts of the riverside development. The camera pans along one part of the riverbank to show the building of the new National Glass Centre. General view follows of a wood yard and cement plant at the North Dock in 1988. The next view shows the new marine activity centre which now occupies the site, with its associated marina and nearby housing development. Nearby, the North Sands business centre provides training and jobs for local people. A new pilot tower and a rebuilt fish quay are part of the Wears redevelopment and at Wylam wharf a still photo shows the restored 18th century Rose Line building. Another historic building has also been restored, the Exchange Building. Aerial photos from 1997, showing the new football stadium the Stadium of Light effectively completing the cycle of regeneration for the new city of Sunderland.  Title: Newcastle Quayside 1987 – 1998 John Grundy speaks on camera just outside the Guildhall on Newcastle Quayside. The camera shows other old buildings in the nearby Sandhills area of Newcastle. Next, there’s a look at the new and restored buildings along Newcastle quayside. A similar view follows from film and photographs taken in 1987. Views follow showing a consultation exhibition organised by the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation as to the future of the quayside, with displays and architectural models. Footage follows of mechanical shovels clearing sections of dilapidated buildings on the Quayside. Some buildings were retained, the Co-op warehouse (now Malmaison) is a listed building and built in 1899. Footage shows the stark square brick building next to it being pulled down. An aerial view shows the extent of clearing and preparation for the Quayside site. John Grundy continues his story of the Quayside development from the steps of Newcastle Combined Courts centre. Views show the variety of businesses and housing which occupies the quayside. Further west along the bank is the new Copthorne Hotel. John Grundy speaks to camera a few yards from the Copthorne Hotel. He enthuses about the paved riverside walkway, a feature of both the Tyne and Wear developments. Further East along the Quayside John Grundy outlines the art installations which are a feature, as are other new and restored buildings, especially the restored Co-Op store. An office building is also a favourite of his, as is Sandgate car park. General views follow of the art works which are a feature of the east end of the Quayside. Another feature is a rebuilt section of the city wall with an incised representation of the river and its historic sights He returns to the walkway which leads him to the Pitcher and Piano pub. A walk through view shows the contemporary interior of the new pub. John Grundy then speaks from a balcony on a block of new flats on the Quayside with spectacular views of the Tyne. General views follow of the Quayside, showing joggers running along the walkway. On camera Paul Polman, managing director of Procter and Gamble, praises the quayside developments. Another walk through view of the Pitcher and Piano follows. He goes on to say the TWDC has helped renew the confidence in the area. Martin Ballinger speaks on behalf of the Go-Ahead Group PLC and he also supports the achievements the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation have made in ten years. John Grundy also mentions the Telewest Arena, a new centre for concerts and events. A photo follows of its floodlit frontage. An aerial photo shows the plot of land set aside for the International Centre for Life, followed by a view of construction work taking place on the site. Government minister Peter Mandelson is seen at the controls of a mechanical auger as he breaks new ground at the Centre for Life building. He talks to an audience of officials and businessmen in front of a display board outlining the functions of the building when completed. On camera, Tony Flynn, Leader of the Newcastle City Council, speaks of the achievements of the partnership between the TWDC and the council. An old photograph shows a tram on the streets of Newcastle and John Dobson’s Cattle Market Office of 1831. The film cuts to a blue plaque commemorating John Dobson’s bicentenary on the restored building. The film then shows Douglas Henderson the Minister for Europe, as he ‘tops out’ phase one of the Bio-Sciences Centre, part of the Centre for Life Development. He also speaks to the groups of officials against the backdrop of pictures illustrating the finished building and the amenities it offers. General view of the Centre for Life Building just along from the Central Station and an architectural model shows another aspect of the building. The film cuts to the sign outside the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation building, followed by board members at a meeting. On camera the chairman Sir Paul Nicholson pays tribute to the Corporation and its members. General views follow of the Newcastle Quayside, and the crowds attending the second Tall Ships race at the Quayside in 1993 with the impressive ships moored there. A display of fireworks at the event ends the film. Title: The Corporation’s Record: Overall investment attracted: £1.26 billion Flagship sites established: 10 New industrial and commercial floor space: 1.2M sq metres Jobs created, safe guarded: 33,754 jobs Land reclaimed: 522 hectares New roads built: 44kms Homes built for sale and rent (of which 255 are social housing): 4550 homes Trees and shrubs planted: over 150,000 Two hotels: 276 bedrooms Grant support for industry: £13.7M Community projects supported: 620 projects Community Monitoring Panels established: 5 panels Grant support for arts projects £25M The projects described in this video have been made possible with funding from several sources, most notably from Government, the European Regional Development Fund and the National Lottery. The Corporation would like to thank all its partners – both locally and nationally – who have contributed to the transformation of the riversides. Thanks also to those who helped in the production of this video. The Five Community Monitoring Panels: Quayside Newcastle, St Peter’s Riverside, Royal Quays, South Shields, Stadium Park Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council, Sunderland City Council, University of Sunderland, Go-Ahead Group PLC, Procter & Gamble UK, Bede’s World, Customs House, Telewest, Newcastle Arena, Tyne & Wear Museums Service, BBC North East & Cumbria Tyne Tees Television “Fireworks” Music: Brendan Healey Produced By Tyne & Wear Development Corporation © 1998 All Reproduction Rights Reserved [Urban Development Corporations were created as a partnership between central government and the private sector. TWDC was established in 1987 to aid the redevelopment of the riverside areas in Tyne and Wear. Flagship projects included regeneration of the East Quayside in Newcastle, Royal Quays in North Tyneside and St Peter's in Sunderland. Its activities were primarily property-led but it also had a community redevelopment strategy. It was dissolved in 1998.]