National writing centre to get £1m boost
LRDSA £1m funding boost for efforts to create a national writing centre has been approved.
Bolbec Hall in Newcastle was originally slated as the site for the centre, but the latest plan is to establish it in the Old Post Office building on St Nicholas Street.
Newcastle City Council's cabinet agreed to the grant on Monday to ensure that the building can be purchased before the end of the current financial year.
The centre will be led by Northumbria University and charity New Writing North, which said the UK publishing industry was "dominated" by publishers in the south, and they hoped the hub would "redress the imbalance".
A year ago, the government pledged £5m to the centre, which is scheduled to open in 2028.
That money remains subject to final approval early this year following the switch in the project's proposed location, though a council report said that the funders were "happy to consider" varying their original agreement.
The North East Combined Authority also committed £2m towards the development last year, while the university is also expected to provide £2.5m.
According to the council report, the centre would include a cafe, bar and bookshop on its ground floor.
It would also feature a performance and exhibition space able to host events ranging from book festivals to weddings, as well as teaching areas and meeting rooms, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Colin Ferguson, leader of Newcastle's Liberal Democrat opposition, told Monday's meeting any initiative to encourage reading and writing was to be welcomed.
However, he added he hoped the business case for the centre was "robust" and would not need continuing public funding to survive.
