Newcastle and the North East marked the significant milestone of 800 years of Mayoralty by burying a time capsule at the Newgate Centre, the site of a major £100m regeneration project in the city.
The capsule buried by Newcastle Lord Mayor Hazel Stephenson and Councillor Ged Bell will not be opened before 2097 and includes a broad range of objects and artefacts that celebrate different aspects of life in the North East today.
The Council chose the site of the development project in the heart of the city to position the capsule as it represents an important investment for the future of the region. The redevelopment being undertaken by McAleer & Rushe will support 780 jobs during the construction phase with up to 153 new full time jobs on the site following completion.
At the event attended by local community and businesses the Lord Mayor highlighted the significance of the milestone and investment in the city. Councillor Hazel Stephenson, said:
“Newcastle and the North East has a rich and cherished history and we wanted to mark this major milestone by linking our past with the future and the planting of the time capsule at this important site is a fitting tribute to life in our city today. It represents the very positive and dynamic opportunity for the city and the wider region in the years ahead.”
The redevelopment will see the existing 1960’s shopping centre being replaced by a 265-bedroom four star Maldron hotel, 20,000 sq ft of commercial space for retail, leisure or professional services use and 575 units of purpose built student accommodation operated by the UK’s leading provider of student housing, Unite Students.
Eamonn Laverty, Chief Executive of McAleer & Rushe, commented:
“We are privileged to have been involved in the marking of the 800th anniversary of Mayoralty in Newcastle, attending the event alongside the local suppliers and consultants who are working closely with us and Newcastle City Council. This marks an important moment in the region’s history and through the development of the Newgate site we are looking forward to helping develop economic growth and sowing the seeds of future prosperity.”
Objects in the capsule include a Newcastle United scarf, a Royal Mint coin set, and one of the last round pounds in circulation providing future generations with an insight into life in the city in 2017.
Attendees at the event included Brunswick Methodist Church and representatives from project partners Maldron and Unite Students.
