'World-class' recording studio planned for city

A new £1.8m "world-class" recording studio could be open by the end of the year.

Newcastle City Council said it was hoping to home the four-storey facility in the Grade II listed Coronation Building, owned by the Live Theatre, on the Quayside.

North East Combined Authority (NECA) has now agreed to fund the scheme using money from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: "It's about telling young people making music – you can do it here."

As part of a report detailing the investment, NECA said north-east England had long struggled to attract investment from major music industry operators.

Sam Fender was an "anomaly rather than the norm", it said.

The report said it was difficult to get private investment for such a "world-class music recording facility" in Newcastle due to "excessive upfront and operational costs".

NECA said by funding this facility it would attract major talent, nurture local acts and drive economic growth.

The space would also contain areas for filming and photography, as well as podcast studios.

Newcastle City Council leader Labour's Karen Kilgour said the facility would "cement the city's growing reputation" for its music scene.

"This is an incredibly exciting project, and while there is much still to do, we look forward to it getting off the ground," she said.

The local authority said it hoped the studios would be open by the end of the year, though the plans are yet to receive planning permission or listed building consent.

Live Theatre head Jacqui Kell said the team was "thrilled" by the investment.

She said: "[The money] will transform the building into cutting-edge creative space and attract major music talent to the city while supporting emerging local artists."

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