Health Innovation Neighbourhood

In March 2022, Genr8 Kajima Regeneration Ltd (GKRL) formed a joint venture with Newcastle University to deliver a world-class neighbourhood for research and innovation in health, living and ageing. Transforming the former 29-acre Newcastle General Hospital site, the mixed-use scheme plans to integrate research, living, workspace and healthcare to create a neighbourhood which examines new approaches to current living standards and how these can be translated to improve health and wellbeing across the globe.

The ambition is not to create an extension of the University campus but rather to build upon Newcastle University’s global reputation for research in healthy ageing, contributing to the city’s overall ambition to be a testbed for innovation and creating a new community that will be interwoven with the existing area. It will be a place that contributes over 1,000 new homes to the West End of Newcastle whilst providing the opportunity to investigate, identify and implement new solutions to problems that limit people’s health and everyday lives.

Alongside medical and healthcare innovation, the vision is to create a thriving neighbourhood for all age groups, where lifestyle, arts & culture, public spaces and education come together with inspiring design, modern urban living and life science education and discovery.

A revised masterplan for outline planning permission was submitted in October 2023, with detailed plans for phase 1 of the site underway. Phase 1 site works are due to commence during mid 2024, with the ambitious scheme set to be delivered in phases over the next ten years.