New HMRC base plans submitted for approval

THE largest office scheme ever proposed for Newcastle city centre is moving towards construction after a planning application was officially submitted.

The landmark Pilgrim’s Quarter building is set to become the largest HMRC base in the UK, following the announcement that 9,000 Government workers are moving into Newcastle from offices in North Tyneside and Washington.

The nine-storey 463,000 sq ft scheme is expected to open in 2027 and HMRC will occupy the whole of the development on a 25-year lease, having confirmed plans to quit its Benton Park View site earlier this year after serving as the base for the ‘Ministry’ for more than 70 years.

Property firm Avison Young’s Newcastle team is acting as planning consultant for the developer Reuben Brothers (Newcastle) Ltd, and the firm said the priority is to ramp up the pace with planning and demolition works.

Matt Verlander, director, planning, development and regeneration at Avison Young said: “Avison Young, as planning consultant, and the design team have been working with the city council since January of this year to develop the planning application for the Pilgrim’s Quarter scheme.”

The HMRC’s current Longbenton office – where the lease is expected to expire in 2024 – currently houses a number of agencies including The Pension, Disability and Carers’ Service, Jobcentre Plus and The Health and Safety Executive.

HMRC has been looking for a city centre office to become its new home. Departments set to be based in the new office include customer services, customer strategy and design, finance, HR, transformation and specialist customer compliance facilities.