This promotional film produced for English Partnerships and the Granger Town conservation and development project raises awareness of the buildings at risk within this conservation area in the centre of Newcastle. It also looks at ways partnerships bring new commercial, leisure and housing development to the area and rejuvenate this area of national and European significance. Title: Grainger Town: Working For A New Living The film opens with a contemporary painted portrait of Richard...

This promotional film produced for English Partnerships and the Granger Town conservation and development project raises awareness of the buildings at risk within this conservation area in the centre of Newcastle. It also looks at ways partnerships bring new commercial, leisure and housing development to the area and rejuvenate this area of national and European significance. Title: Grainger Town: Working For A New Living The film opens with a contemporary painted portrait of Richard Grainger as a commentary outlines his life. He became a property developer and a framed map of Newcastle shows the areas where he built most of his well-known and admired buildings. On film the title page of an 1834 plan of improvements to Newcastle proposed by Richard Grainger is shown. The commentary with accompanying contemporary sketches of his building work, states that it took only five years to build one and a quarter miles of neo-classical streets. The film also shows portraits of other famous names with which he formed partnerships including John Dobson, and town clerk John Clayton. The commentary states that around 500 hundred of Grainger’s buildings still stand in the city conservation area known as Grainger Town. An aerial view of the city centre outlines the conservation area. A purple colour coding show a high number of listed buildings within this area. Some are at risk as view of a building which has a corner site in the city centre, shows it in a state of dilapidation. Other views follow of damage on other buildings. General views follow of buildings and street views near Grey’s monument. The commentary also states that the conservation area has created limitations in terms of access, parking and conversion to modern retail and office space. Much of this type of business has migrated to other areas of the city, such as Eldon Square or some of the new quayside developments. General views follow of buildings which have suffered from severe fouling from roosting and/or nesting birds on window ledges. This is followed by views of crowds seeking entertainment in the Bigg Market area of the the city. Another view shows the Chinatown area of Newcastle in Stowell Street. Other areas of the city noted for their cultural interest include the Tyne Theatre and Opera House. A ticker tape display underneath this sequence of views reads ‘20 Performance Art Venues – 14 Galleries and Museums – 3 Cinemas’. Views accompanying this list show the Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle Arts Centre, and the Theatre Royal. A view follows of the spectacular curving Grey Street. Title: Peter McKendrick – Senior Partner, Sanderson Townend & Gilbert Peter talks on screen about the high architectural qualities of this famous street. Various views of a busy Grey Street follow. The commentary goes on to say how many more new jobs and businesses are now coming into the conservation area. A group of young men enter Café Clayton’s, on Clayton Street a business which will have been helped to be established by an allowance made through the Grainger Town project via English Heritage and the City Council. Title: Brian Fagleman – Proprietor, Intercoin Brian speaks as a businessman outside his coin dealership premises. In 1993 the shop was derelict but English Heritage helped him restore the building. A still photograph shows another old but larger building with retail units at street level. The film shows two larger buildings being restored by English Partnerships, the St Nicholas Building and the former Wengers department store building on Grainger Street. An old Post Office is secured and awaits restoration in the Graingertown area. Title: Alan J Smith – Senior Partner, The Alan J Smith Partnership. He talks of how the building might be converted into a multi-use facility, including residential, prestige offices, a design headquarters for his firm, an art gallery and a roof garden. The film shows the derelict interior, with some original fittings indicating its original use. A view follow of people walking along a city street as the commentary states that over 8,000 people work in Grainger Town, but fewer than 1000 live in the area. More general views follow of the city centre. Title: Jon Watson – Director of Development, Home Housing Association Jon says that the housing association has been working in the city centre for several years, and manage around 150 flats and houses in the city centre. He points to Galen House, Low Friar Street in the distance behind him, which is to be converted into residential properties. The film then shows a city centre resident and the interior of his city centre home. Title: Mark Florentine – Grainger Town Resident On camera he talks about the convenient access you have to various amenities and facilities in the city centre. The film shows general view of the people walking through city centre streets. Mark gives his views on how the city centre is developing and that there are more options for those who want to live in the city, he thinks the centre community is growing. A cleared section of land in the theatre village area of the city will be the site of the Foyer a building with English Partnerships investment. A tickertape information display over an artists impression of the finished development, states it will provide: Title: Accommodation for 100 – Careers Advice – Shops The accommodation will be for young people just starting their training or employment. It will also bring new architecture into the Grainger Town area. More general views follow of the area of the city near Grey’s monument. Title: Sue Wilson – Chief Executive, The Newcastle Initiative Sue stands on Clayton Street and outlines what improvements may be made on this area of the city. She says that more than half the buildings are at risk. A 19th century black and white view of the city merges into a general film view of the same location. Other still old photos follow of other parts of Grainger Town. Four men enter an old and dusty building. They represent the city council, housing associations and English Heritage. Title: Sources of public finance: English Partnerships – Newcastle City Council – Single Regeneration Budget – The National Lottery – English Heritage – Housing Corporation The men gather on an external balcony. Another old view to present day view of the same location of another part of Grainger Town follows. A plan of Grainger Town shows how various ‘corridors’ could be developed for access to entertainment, retail development, and office premises. A three dimensional plan shows locations of renovation and development work, from the central station northwards. General views show other parts of Newcastle where improvements will be made for mixed use including retail. The Bigg Market will be opened up to pedestrians to create a meeting place. General views of the city form a backdrop as the commentary emphasises that the Grainger Town development is as much about enterprise as it is about conservation. An aerial view of Newcastle is followed by a representative from English Partnerships. Title: Jonathan Blackie – NE Regional Director, English Partnerships Jonathan talks about how English Partnerships want to reinvigorate Newcastle and by doing so reinvigorate the region. Title: Sir Jeremy Beecham – Chair, Newcastle City Council, Development Committee Sir Jeremy gives his overview over the whole Grainger Town project changes to a view of one of the original drawings of Richard Grainger’s vison for Newcastle in the early 19th century. The commentary talks of the partnerships forged then and those of the current Grainger Town development, both with the same vision for making the City centre attractive to residents and enterprise and both dependent on investment. General views of the city are followed by a view of the Grey’s Monument area also including the insignia and logos of the City of Newcastle, E3 and Grainger Town. End credit: Jay Film & Video