Newcastle to see £500m investment into ageing better

A cutting-edge £500m development supporting the understanding, care and innovation of products and services for an ageing population has been given the go ahead in Newcastle.

The regeneration of the former General Hospital site, on Westgate Road in Newcastle’s West End, will help people live longer and healthier lives through global leadership in ageing and research.

Led by Newcastle University, the application has been endorsed by the City Council’s planning committee.

The planned development, which will take approximately 10 years to complete, will link research and innovation across the 29-acre site and provide unique solutions for living, leisure, learning and employment as we age.

Professor Chris Day, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and President of Newcastle University said: ‘This incredible vision will establish our site as the world’s premier centre for healthy ageing and living.

‘It will bring together the three pillars of Health, Wealth and Wellbeing. We are delighted we can go ahead with our exciting plans to put ageing and health at the heart of a flourishing community which will bring together research, innovation, commerce and living.’

Professor Jane Robinson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Place at Newcastle University said: ‘By 2040, one in seven of us will be aged 75 or over. 

‘Building on our key strengths, including the National Innovation Centre for Ageing, we are bringing together world-leading academics, industry, public sector and local communities to help find solutions to complex challenges of an ageing population and maximise the economic opportunities of global longevity economy.’

Under the approved plans, the wide-ranging research on the site will take a whole-system approach to tackle major challenges in ageing and health. This will include developing new precision diagnostics and therapeutics, tackling mental health issues and health inequalities, and better integrating health and care across the life course.

A key focus of the site will be into multiple long-term conditions that increase with age, and which include dementia, frailty, reduced mobility and other medical conditions. These problems are often compounded by additional environmental and societal issues, which the site will also look to address.

The research will be supported by a new build that will house discovery science through to clinical trials, followed by real-world evaluation to benefit an ageing population.

Studies will focus on new devices, products and medications, interacting closely with the National Innovation Centre for Ageing and the National Innovation Centre for Data, which are both based at Newcastle University.

A cornerstone of the site will be the urban testbed, enabling the real-world application of research in residential facilities on-site. Ensuring residents’ needs are foremost, it will evaluate prototypes and interventions to maintain wellbeing through early detection with the aim of avoiding emergency NHS admissions.

Professor David Burn, Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Medical Sciences at Newcastle University said: ‘The site will give us an unprecedented opportunity to undertake world-class research that not only benefits our local population but people nationally and internationally, too.

‘We will take a whole-system approach, from cell to community, working with our partners to create a site that is truly unique in its scope, for the health and wellbeing of our population, as well as boosting the economy of our region.’

The outline masterplan for the site was developed with GSS Architecture and focuses on integrating the site with the surrounding communities and infrastructure.

The submitted application includes capacity for a residential and commercial mix, with a proposal for a range of housing suitable for the local population and it is anticipated this will include housing complementary to the purpose of the site.

In related news, the UK’s pension bill set to rise by £24bn a year by the end of the decade, a thinktank has warned.

Photo by the Centre or Ageing Better