Newbiggin Hosts Royal Visit

01 August 2008

Newbiggin by the Sea recently played host to His Royal Highness the Earl of Wessex coincidentally on the day planning approval was agreed by Wansbeck District Council for the village’s proposed maritime centre - designed by award-winning architectural and

Prince Edward toured the nearby Woodhorn Mining Museum and Archives Heritage Centre, before meeting with members of the Heritage Partnership and MGA Director, Tim Mosedale, who unveiled the firm’s design plans for the new centre. Once the plans had been unveiled, the Mary Joicey Lifeboat – which will form the focal point of the centre – was taken back to the village for the day to be inspected by Prince Edward.

Providing a further boost to the tourism potential of the Northumberland town, the new centre will house both the restored Mary Joicey and a local Coble fishing boat – the ‘Girl Ann’ – two major pieces of Newbiggin’s maritime history. The centre will also feature corporate and educational facilities, and a public café and restaurant.

The concept for the visitor attraction was prepared in close consultation with the Newbiggin community, developing a range of active partnerships in the village and across the Wansbeck District. MGA’s design, which incorporates a number of ‘green’ technologies, uses a palette of natural materials to allow the building to sit comfortably within its surroundings. In addition, the building’s low form ensures that there is minimum impact on the views to the nearby St Bartholomew’s church.

Adding to the area’s recent key developments, including the installation of internationally renowned public art piece Couple on the offshore reef, and the beach recharge, the new centre will be a prominent landmark in the town, sensitively accommodated within the headland.

MGA Director Tim Mosedale said: “Winning planning approval for such a distinctive building on a sensitive site like this is a great achievement, not only for us but the whole client team. Every effort was made during the design process to involve interested parties ranging from the local community to the planning consultees – and all their comments have had an input in the final design. This is a significant milestone and a huge vote of confidence in what is going to be a very exciting project.”
 
Richard Martin, Chair of Newbiggin by the Sea Heritage Partnership added:

“MGA have brought a new dimension to this iconic project which is being driven by a determined group of volunteers. The establishment of this new centre will not only showcase Newbiggin’s rich history, but also give a unique day out experience at the seaside which will compliment the major bay regeneration works.”

MGA’s past experience in working on coastal and tourism developments played an important role in securing this exciting commission. As well as the recent completion of the new residential complex on the North East coastline, the company is also leading on a project to re-design the Visitor Centre in Jesmond Dene, as part of the wider Ouseburn Parks scheme, which also involved MGA’s renovation of the Heaton Park pavilion.
 
MGA was established in 1995 and is renowned for its innovative and bespoke projects across the residential, arts, commercial, community, regeneration and historic sectors.

In the spirit of creativity the company also enjoys working with professional artists as part of its design process and currently takes part in the Arts Council, Artist Placement programme.

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