This 12-hectare (29-acre) brownfield site in west Newcastle integrates education, research, innovation, healthcare and intergenerational living to address health inequalities in the North East. Rooted in the local community with global best-practice influences, the car-free, people-centric neighbourhood features the Avocado Loop community park, urban forest, water management and green infrastructure. A Grow Local cooperative promotes sustainability, creating a vibrant, shared amenity for residents and the wider community.

*Future Public Realm is supported by Vestre*

Who is on the project? 

Landscape Architect - Gillespies

Architect - GSS Architecture

Planning Consultant - Pegasus Group 

Ecologist - Biodiverse Consulting 

Structural Engineer - SHED

M&E Engineer - Max Fordham 

Transport Planner -  Mosodi

Describe the context of this project, its neighbourhood and community.

Newcastle University is a global leader in ageing and health research, driving innovation and championing a world where we all live better, for longer. At the forefront of this mission is the Health Innovation Neighbourhood—a ground-breaking initiative and the first of its kind in the UK. Situated on a 29-acre brownfield site to the west of Newcastle city centre, the neighbourhood integrates education, research, innovation, workspace, interdisciplinary primary healthcare, intergenerational residential living, and later-living spaces. It’s designed to tackle the complex challenges of an ageing population and address the significant health inequalities that exist between the North and South of England. Research and innovation are the golden thread through this new neighbourhood. A ‘living laboratory’ approach with research programmes, innovative strategies and interdisciplinary solutions will deliver strategies that improve lives locally, regionally and globally. The neighbourhood demonstrates how communities can embrace healthier, happier, and more sustainable ways of living, setting a blueprint for future developments across the UK. Part of an international research programme, the Health Innovation Neighbourhood will share insights and best practices with partners worldwide while remaining deeply rooted in Newcastle’s local community. Guided by the vision that "every person deserves to live a healthy life with equitable access to care and opportunities," the neighbourhood seeks to transform health and wellbeing for all. World-class facilities will be part of a liveable neighbourhood. By integrating research and innovation with community and placemaking, the neighbourhood will be a centre for frontier approaches to health, wellbeing and inclusivity.

Please describe your approach to this future public realm, including its purpose and motivation. How does it knit into, and serve the needs of, the wider area?

The public realm is envisioned as a vital connector, linking the urban fabric and local communities together through a sense of shared belonging. Designed to encourage active lifestyles, social interaction, and overall wellbeing, the public realm prioritises inclusivity and sustainability to serve both new and existing communities. A community park, dubbed the "Avocado Loop," wraps around the perimeter of the neighbourhood to create a shared local amenity for the local area. This park incorporates extensive recreation, play, and fitness facilities while enhancing connectivity and serving as the community’s green lungs. It supports habitat creation, manages water attenuation, and reconnects people with nature. The dense masterplan emphasises high-quality streets and intimate spaces that form an interconnected network, with every area designed for multifunctionality to maximise community benefits. A variety of landscape typologies create richness, cultivating a vibrant and engaging atmosphere for all. The neighbourhood also features accessible public spaces at multiple levels—ground floor, terraces, and roofscape—seamlessly blurring the interface between internal and external spaces to promote community accessibility and multifunctional and ‘all weather’ community spaces. The car-free neighbourhood adopts a people-centric approach, leveraging innovative servicing strategies such as active travel corridors, e-bikes, and drones for the movement of people and goods. Urban agriculture is used as a social driver to grow food locally as part of a neighbourhood-wide cooperative. Digital integration enhances the public realm, connecting residents to facilities, events, and each other. This approach improves accessibility, reduces social isolation, and streamlines neighbourhood management, creating a resilient, future-ready community.

Describe the social impact of the project: How will it contribute to the economic, environmental and social wellbeing of the wider place and its community?

The overarching vision for the Health Innovation Neighbourhood is to improve the health and wellbeing of our society and the health and happiness of individual lives. This defines the very essence of this new community, which has the potential to benefit us all. The social legacy of this project is paramount, placing people and their lives at the heart of the vision. It establishes a sense of ownership and identity for the new neighbourhood and surrounding communities, promoting social equality, inclusivity, and cohesion. By empowering local people and instilling a sense of worth, it creates a vibrant place that become part of everyday life—a space where the community feels welcome, encouraged to gather, and confident in their right to belong. This neighbourhood is designed to enable the local community to thrive, ensuring everyone benefits equally from the opportunities and investment it brings to the area. The social masterplanning of this scheme is where true valued is realised. A range of initiatives are proposed that sit alongside the physical masterplan, establishing a people-focused approach, including a "Grow Local" cooperative, empowering local communities to manage the public realm through an environmental stewardship programme, and curating a diverse social calendar of regular events and activities. A comprehensive strategy for temporary "meanwhile" uses will further engage the existing community and build lasting connections and a sense of community spirit. The Health Innovation Neighbourhood prioritises active living, with a strong focus on sports, recreation, and playful spaces that promote wellbeing for all.