Clouston Group has officially handed over a new £12 million University Technical College (UTC) at Newcastle's Stephenson Quarter.

The urban regeneration company delivered the development, which houses social, leisure and retail accommodation.

The North East Futures college was completed across 15 months in partnership with Galliford Try, and will accommodate 600 students per annum aged 14-19.

It is the only new-build conservation project in Newcastle to be approved by Historic England without recommended planning modifications.

The North East Future UTC will form part of phase two of Clouston's flagship, mixed-use scheme at Stephenson Quarter.

Richard Clouston, CEO of Clouston Group, said: "We are delighted to have delivered the new UTC building and played such a pivotal role in its development, from initial concept with ESFA backing through to construction and final completion. The campus has been thoroughly designed to support, benefit and enhance the opportunities for young people, and its location in the heart of the city centre will maximise links between education and the wider business community.

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"The project also formed part of phase two at Stephenson Quarter allowing UTC to compliment and benefit from potential new occupiers moving to the site. Future proposals include the sensitive restoration of several listed buildings as well as an additional 60,000 sq ft of office accommodation, and this is designed to attract ambitious, high-growth companies to establish a dynamic digital hub for creative and high-tech industries.

"From inception, our intention has been to incorporate a diverse blend of uses to act as a catalyst for one another. By having education, hospitality, the arts, business and conservation all integrated into one site, we have transformed the area into an energetic and welcoming quarter of the city employing circa 3,000 people."

Leading planning and development consultancy, Lichfields and Newcastle-based, Xsite architects also supported Clouston and Galliford Try on the project.

The unique design also included approximately 10,000 sq ft of conservation space, integrating the remains of The Hawthorn Engineering Works, dating back to the Industrial Revolution, into the new building.

The UTC welcomed its first crop of students in October 2018.

(CM/MH)