DWP’s Newcastle city centre headquarters hits construction milestone

The Government department’s new regional headquarters at 1 Pilgrim Place in Newcastle is one of the largest office developments ever built in the city centre

One of the largest office schemes ever created in Newcastle city centre has reached its latest construction milestone. With just eight months to go before the official launch of 1 Pilgrim Place, representatives from all of the project’s partners have gathered in Newcastle to see the continued construction progress at the landmark development.

Representatives from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Reuben Brothers (Newcastle) Ltd, Bowmer + Kirkland, Avison Young, Ryder Architecture, Cundall and Newcastle City Council visited the site to mark the latest construction milestone ahead of the building’s completion in 2027.

The building is one of three planned by project partners in the heart of the city – Pilgrim’s Quarter, which will become home to thousands of HMRC staff. 1 Pilgrim Place which will become the new regional base for the DWP, while 2 Pilgrim Place is being made available to let with property agents, offering “sustainable, best-in-class office accommodation”.

Attendees were taken on a guided tour of the development before hearing from project partners about the significance 1 Pilgrim Place will hold in the continuing transformation of Newcastle city centre. Alongside neighbouring schemes including Pilgrim’s Quarter, Hotel Gotham Newcastle, Worswick Chambers – now a permanent home to Stack – and Bank House, the development’s 7.9-hectare site forms a key component of one of the most ambitious city-centre regeneration programmes in the UK.

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The occasion underscored the strength of partnership between the public and private sectors, with stakeholders reflecting on the considerable progress made to date. A commemorative plaque was also unveiled to mark the completion of the building’s shell.

Roger Thornton, head of property at Motcomb Estates, asset manager for Reuben Brothers (Newcastle) Ltd, said: “Today’s event is a great opportunity to recognise the progress being made at 1 Pilgrim Place and the commitment shown by everyone involved in delivering it. The building is an important part of the wider regeneration of Pilgrim Street, creating high-quality workspace that will complement the growing mix of commercial, leisure and hospitality uses emerging across this part of the city. As more projects reach completion over the coming months, the long-term vision for Pilgrim Street is becoming a reality.”

Sarah Homer, director general – corporate transformation at the DWP said: “It’s fantastic to see the progress being made at 1 Pilgrim Place. This development will provide a modern, collaborative workplace that supports the way DWP and our staff work while reinforcing our long-term commitment to Newcastle. We look forward to seeing the building completed and becoming part of this thriving new city-centre neighbourhood.”

Paul Anderson, project director at Bowmer + Kirkland, said: “Reaching this stage of construction is a testament to the commitment and expertise of everyone working on the project. Delivering a development of this scale within a busy city-centre environment requires close collaboration, and we’re proud of the progress made as we continue towards completion.”

Christopher Turnbull, principal at Avison Young, said: “1 Pilgrim Place is another significant milestone in the wider regeneration of Pilgrim Street. Avison Young is proud to support the programme through project management, property management, planning and agency services. The scheme will deliver one of the city’s most prominent office developments, helping to make a lasting contribution to Newcastle’s economy, business community and long-term commercial future.”