Approval tipped for major Eldon Square revamp

Plans to revamp underutilised areas of Eldon Square into two new venues, which could create about 400 jobs and would bring the top floor of the former Debenhams into use, look set for approval.Last November, the centre revealed that it would transform about 200,000 sq ft of vacant floorspace into a family leisure attraction which will offer indoor sports and entertainment across parts of the centre including the former Eldon Leisure Centre site.Under the plans, the circa 120,000 sq ft venue will include arcade games, virtual reality, crazy golf and electric karting.Additionally, the top floor of the former Debenhams department store will be redeveloped into a space which will mix food, socialising, art, cultural entertainment and music performance.By removing limited parts of the building’s roof, there will also be a recessed external seating area with a retractable roof.A new NEXT department store is set to occupy the rest of the former department store, after a major leasing deal was signed.Once operational, it is estimated that about £16m will be added to the city’s economy every year.Speaking when the application was submitted, Cormac Hamilton, general manager of Eldon Square, called the proposals “genuinely exciting”, adding that they could boost employment by about 20 per cent.Newcastle City Councils Planning Committee will review the application on Friday 12 April.