Conclusion

Strengths
1 Varied means of access across River Tyne
2 New cultural developments, eg the Baltic and Sage Gateshead
3 New landmark residential and hotel building
4 Riverside Sculpture Park and Town Park public spaces
5 Collection of notable historic buildings, structures and spaces
6 Remnants of historic street patterns
7 Bus and Metro interchange.

Weaknesses
1 Poor quality built form/public space as threshold to Town Centre
2 Lack of coherent, safe pedestrian/cycle routes from Town Centre to Quayside
3 Disconnected public space
4 Poor quality retail centre including multi storey and grade parking
5 High negative impact from road corridor and unrelated built form
6 Underused and isolated office buildings
7 Derelict buildings and vacant plots
8 Restricted access to and along Quayside
9 Poor sense of arrival
10 Large tracts of derelict land
11 Northern orientation

Opportunities
1 Connect both quaysides and link into central Gateshead
2 Improve riverside access and connections
3 Connect new Quayside initiatives with Town Centre by funicular and/or aerial structure
4 Enhance setting of listed buildings and structures
5 Improve connections between residential areas and Town Centre
6 Comprehensive reworking of Town Centre around new urban square and high density/quality mixed use development
7 New civic and urbane Town Centre threshold
8 New heavy rail interchange at Baltic Business Quarter
9 Make High Level Bridge a pedestrian/bus/cycle connection only
10 Introduce new residential units along edge of Town Park
11 Develop out the vacant sites
12 Remove high level structures on Gateshead highway
13 Extend A3 uses along river edge

Threats
1 Barriers impeding pedestrian/cycle connections
2 Large scale industrial development on edge of Town Centre
3 Large scale buildings unrelated to surrounding context
4 Areas of phased development resulting long term vacant sites
5 Perception that Quayside and cultural assets are an extension to Newcastle
6 Steep north facing embankments restricting pedestrian/cycle connections
7 Askew Road used as 'bypass' to Newcastle City centre
8 Inappropriate riverside uses as Quayside develops as leisure/cultural quarter.