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COVER STORY - ELDON SQUARE
THE WORLD’S ONLY GLOBAL RETAIL AND LEISURE MAGAZINE
TH
ANNIVERSARY
ISSUE
www.rli.uk.com MARCH 2025 ISSUE 197

ELDON SQUARE
THE BEATING HEART
OF NEWCASTLE
AMOUAGE FABERGÉ LANGHAM HOSPITALITY GROUP 197
Scent of The Pursuit The Langham
Opulence of Perfection Way
AC&CO. | BOCAN COUTURE | GERALD CHARLES | GLOBAL ARCHITECTURE & MASTERPLANNING | SAUDI ARABIA MEGAPROJECTS | SPOTLIGHT ON MIPIM

The Beating established itself as one of Europe’s most has become a hotbed for foreign direct doesn’t for the city and we share in the same
This has become evident as Newcastle
vision - a commercially driven approach that
important revolution hubs and is home to
Heart of hundreds of dynamic companies that are creating investment, with 29 new companies opening also delivers social value.”
an employment site in the city in 2023/2024,
Discussing such an expansive and wide-
highly skilled jobs in the industries of the future.
The scheme continues to attract inward
ranging scheme means our time with Michelle
offering more than 1,700 new jobs.
Michelle Percy,
NCC Director of investment from global businesses and this is Following the appointment of Pradera and Barry quickly runs short. As we near the
Newcastle Growth (left), and evident within the new launches into its retail Lateral as asset manager in November 2022, end of the our time, Michelle comments that
Investment and
Barry Cox,
offering. Launched last September, Sephora’s
the Co-operation Agreement between XPE
the evolution of shopping centres and the high
XPE Group
6,600sq ft store at Eldon Square has been a
Director (right)
services that these places provide and instead
huge success and surpassed all expectations Group PLC as leaseholder and Newcastle City street is about moving beyond the traditional
Council as the long-term freeholder in Eldon
A symbol of the Newcastle community for almost 50 years, Eldon Square proves not all shopping schemes are and continues to deliver strong commercial Square was unveiled last year, providing a great become urban hubs capable of delivering a
made equal. To learn more about this transformation between XPE Group PLC and Newcastle City Council, results months after opening, as well as being a example of public and private sectors working much broader scope of city centre functions.
together in agile ways to achieve faster growth
Barry follows this by saying that to stay ahead
hit with shoppers of all ages.
we spent some time with Barry Cox, XPE Group PLC Director and Michelle Percy, NCC Director “Alongside exciting retail openings, we are and sustainable success. of trends and to ensure the scheme remains
of Investment and Growth to better understand the programme that is evolving the city centre. expanding the scheme’s F&B offering with “It is an exciting time for businesses and relevant, they work closely with their research
popular restaurant brand Wingstop among retailers to invest in Newcastle. The city is partners CACI, together with Pradera Lateral’s
he investment into Eldon Square is part of Investment. “Our vision for the future of Eldon Square’s new brand strategy. These the latest to open at Eldon Square,” highlights building around one million square feet of own data and insights team and marketing agency
Tof a £162M public-private investment Newcastle is for a city transformed by investment included Newcastle United FC, NGI, NE1, the Barry. “As well as new openings, our tenants Grade A commercial space, including a new BWP, to ensure their business and marketing
programme that will reposition the retail in people and places, a city where investors and universities and Invest Newcastle, along with are undergoing significant inward investment, Government hub for HMRC, which will bring strategy is built on robust data and trends analysis.
offer in Newcastle city centre. It will feature developers are committed to social impact and some of our anchor retail and leisure tenants.” with 13 units either completed or on site with 9,000 additional workers into the heart of “Every partner we work with has to
investment into four key areas, £65M into a city where public-private partnerships work With a vision of creating a space that goes a total investment of £28.65M and four more Newcastle. This investment creates jobs and absolutely understand our DNA, which is about
Eldon Square, £50M into a City Centre hard to improve the health, wealth and wellbeing beyond merely food and drink, but one that units investing across H1 2025.” changes perceptions of the city, which in turn growth in our city, but this can come through in
Transformation Programme, £40M into of residents and communities.” incorporates music, culture and community, These include NEXT’s new 60,000sq ft attracts global brands and brings in more all different ways. It is about bringing all these
Fenwick and the surrounding public realm “Eldon Square is the pride of Newcastle and the introduction of innovative and immersive store, along with River Island relocating and visitors,” Barry comments. ambitions together and delivering against them.
(Brunswick Place) and finally a £7M investment as Michelle says, we are fiercely proud to be entertainment brands such as the upcoming upsizing to a new 20,000sq ft concept store. “The partnership is a unique collaboration Delivery has to be our word of choice in the
into the Grade 1-listed Grainger Market. part of the city. We are a driving force at the 60,000sq ft Freight Island and Flight Club Valuing Eldon Square’s role in the community, based on understanding each other’s ambitions next two years,” says Michelle.
“As an ownership board, Newcastle City heart of change as the city steps into a new opening later this year, will offer a next-level NCC and XPE continuously look for ways to and what we have created with XPE to “We will be sharing more details on the Eldon
Council (NCC) together with XPE Group PLC, era of regeneration and national recognition,” experience that elevates Newcastle’s status as create social value. Its central location means reposition Eldon Square for the future is a real Square rebrand and what this means for the
have collaborated with a new energy that is set comments Barry Cox, XPE Group PLC a vibrant cultural destination and social hub. it is perfectly placed to bring people together strength,” adds Michelle. future at MIPIM. Come and chat to us on the
to supercharge not just Eldon Square, but also Director. “Together with NCC, we involved Highlighting this era of innovation and and contribute to the sense of belonging “It has been successful because at every Newcastle stand or join our drinks reception to
its contribution to the overarching ambitions of a number of key Newcastle stakeholders community, the city’s premier innovation and community that are fundamental to the stage, we have had open, constructive see what we are all about,” Barry concludes.
the city,” explains Michelle Percy, NCC Director and community representatives in planning district, the £450M Newcastle Helix has quickly scheme’s ethos and continued success. conversations about what works and what www.eldonsquare.co.uk
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