Member Article

Hoults adds Gateshead to regional expansion plan

THE team behind Hoults Yard, Newcastle’s creative-tech ‘business village’, has acquired a Gateshead business centre as it rolls out plans for business centres across the region under a mission for ‘property with personality.’

Gear House will be rebranded ‘HYpoint’, pronounced ‘highpoint’, as it stands at an elevated position on Saltmeadows Road, a busy, commercial artery on Gateshead’s riverside connecting the region’s key business districts and cultural venues.

The acquisition joins the Hoults Yard Hubs portfolio which will see 100,000 sq ft added to the firm’s footprint in the next 12 months: Gateshead’s HYpoint sits with StationH in Sunderland and Hoults Yard in Byker – with further sites to follow soon. All the branding features a play on the H and Y of Hoults Yard.

“The region is in great shape,” said MD Charlie Hoult, “so we’re investing to create hubs for businesses to grow – underpinned by technology, property services, parking, meeting rooms, great front of house and good craic! We see how 21st century businesses operate and work hard so our model supports that.

“Saltmeadows Road is buzzing. It’s a great location close to the city centre and adjacent to projects, like Arena 2 and Northern Design Centre. There’s easy access to Sunderland and South Shields, the A19, Team Valley and the A1, but it’s just a hop over the Swing Bridge to NE1. You can feel how prosperity is regenerating the area at pace, so it’s great to be part of that.

“Gear House needs a bit of TLC and the Hoults Yard team is eager to work its magic and bring the offices up to standards set in Byker – we’ve got a big focus on streamlining processes, upgrading spaces and revitalising the place into HYpoint,” he added.

The 20,000sq ft building was originally built as Headquarters for Laws Stores, the supermarket chain which became Presto. There are offices and industrial spaces across three floors, as well as 90 parking spaces.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Hoults Yard .