Lendlease appointed to deliver The Sage International Conference Centre in Gateshead

Lendlease has been appointed by Gateshead Council’s development partner Ask:PATRIZIA to deliver The Sage International Conference Centre at Gateshead Quays.

The announcement follows swiftly after Gateshead Council’s planning committee approved revised plans for the 61,440 sqm riverside scheme.

Design amendments included re-location of the 344-room dual branded hotel to an adjacent site and the subsequent creation of an urban park utilising the remaining space which will create a pedestrian link from the Gateshead Millennium Bridge up to Hawks Road.

Enabling works have been taking place over the last two years and Lendlease plan to make a start on site later this year.

With a GDV of £150m, The Sage International Conference Centre will be delivered in the first phase of the scheme and will include 5,720 sqm state of the art exhibition space, 2,520 sqm adaptable meeting space, 17 conference rooms and a banqueting suite. The first phase will also include the hotel and urban park. On completion The Sage International Conference Centre will be operated by ASM Global.

Lendlease is an international real estate group that has delivered convention, event and entertainment facilities both in the UK and globally. The company brings global expertise and learnings from similar projects including the SSE Hydro (now the OVO Hydro) in Glasgow, Scotland, and the International Convention Centre in Sydney, Australia. The business is committed to creating lasting legacies and delivering new jobs, skills and sustainability initiatives on every project.

David Cadiot, Executive General Manager of UK Regions for Lendlease, said: “Lendlease has a track record of building, designing and project managing some of the world’s greatest sporting and entertainment venues. We’ll bring the know how to create an exceptional venue, one which local people will be hugely proud to have on their doorstep.”

John Hughes, Managing Director of Ask Real Estate commented on behalf of the Ask:PATRIZIA partnership: “We’re really pleased to have partnered with Lendlease to bring forward the first phase of The Sage International Conference Centre and The Sage Arena scheme and look forward to seeing this superb facility emerge on the Gateshead waterfront. Lendlease has significant experience in delivering large-scale, complex schemes and we’re determined to realise the partnership’s vision for The Sage International Conference Centre and deliver this transformational and ambitious development for the region.”

Peter Udall, Strategic Director: Economy, Innovation and Growth at Gateshead Council added: “Lendlease is committed to delivering new jobs, skills and sustainability initiatives on every project - all of which are critical success factors of regeneration in Gateshead. We’re looking forward to working with Lendlease to bring The Sage International Conference Centre and all its wider benefits to Gateshead and the region.”

The revised plans for the relocated hotel were granted planning permission in March 2023. Russell WBHO has been appointed as contractor on the £48m building, which will be operated by Accor under its Novotel and ibis brands. The delivery of The Sage International Conference Centre will be followed by The Sage Arena which will also be operated by ASM Global and which will be completed under a separate construction contract.

In 2021 the scheme secured a naming rights partnership with Sage plc, the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses, since then it has been known as The Sage. In January 2023, the scheme was awarded £20m from central government’s Levelling Up Fund Round 2.

Designed by HOK Architects the project team also includes planning consultants Lichfields, engineers Cundall, QS Core Five, Planit-IE, Crowd Dynamics, Vectos and MEP consultants Desco.