General

Review of the service infrastructure for the development sites has been undertaken to provide an overview of the existing and available services within the Regeneration Study Area.

The review has identified that there are the eight main Service Authorities operating in the Gateshead Area, namely British Telecommunication (BT), Northern Electric (NEDL), Northumbrian Water (NWL), National Grid Transco, Telewest, Cable and Wireless, Thus, and Your Communications.

The Service Authorities have located their equipment, typically, in the existing highway and footway areas and along the Light and Heavy Rail corridors. There are also a number of strategic supply/distribution facilities within the area including NEDL’s Central Primary Sub-Station, NWL’s Water Supply Pumping Stations, NWL’s Sewage Saltmeadow Pump Station and BT’s Telephone Exchanges buildings. The main service network routes and strategic supply/distribution facilities are shown the diagram above.

Existing Services Impact

In general terms, other than the town centre and the strategic supply/distribution facilities locations, the majority of sites identified are anticipated to have a low to medium impact on the existing service network corridors. There are a number of sites that have service supply links crossing and theses will need to be retained or diverted.

The town centre area has a significant number of services running along and between West/High West Street and High Street and also has the BT exchange buildings to the north and the NEDL Central Primary Sub-Station to the south. Service diversions and protection are anticipated within this area for the proposed development.

The NWL Water Supply Pump Station located near Askew Road will also need diversion and protection works if it is to be relocated to allow land development.

Should major highway re-alignment be proposed then further service diversions and protection will be anticipated. The elevated Gateshead Highway has been identified as not being a service corridor and therefore impact of removing this structure is not anticipated to be major.

A more detailed assessment of service infrastructure impacts on the development sites will be required once development details are better defined.

Capacity

All Services Authorities have requested more detailed information on supply requirements to allow capacity to be fully assessed. However, Service Authorities, with the exception of NWL Drainage Section, have advised that, they consider that service supply should be available for the new development in the Gateshead Area.

NWL Drainage Section have indicated that the drainage network within the Gateshead area is close to capacity and therefore potentially sensitive to increased foul water and surface water flows. They have advised that a detailed study of the drainage systems will be required and potential upgrading works necessary.

A more detailed assessment of service infrastructure capacity will be required once development details are better defined.