The majority of buildings in the central area, on the higher ground is predominately three storey or under. This has the effect of negating any drama afforded by their higher plateau location. The generally low built form combined with the Tyne Gorge topography results in very little of the Town Centre being visible from the Quayside. This lack of visibility is now compounded by the recent developments of the Hilton Hotel and Sage Gateshead.

The residential blocks of Barns Close, Regent and Warwick Courts, Windmill East Street and the Chandless Estate punctuate the skyline but do little to contribute to the overall urban form within the study area.

Similarly the multi storey carpark to the Trinity Square Shopping Centre dominates the surrounding context and is visible from many key vantage points including the Quayside.

The Tyne and High Level Bridges historically dominated the surrounding built form, through the scale and height of the new Quayside developments now reflect the scale of the bridges and Gorge.