End of an era as former Sage headquarters at Newcastle Great Park is officially snapped up

Sage site

One of the North East's most recognisable office buildings has officially been sold, marking the beginning of a major transformation after sitting empty for more than five years.

Avant Homes has confirmed it has purchased the former Sage headquarters at Great Park, Newcastle, and plans to demolish the building to make way for a brand-new housing development.

Here's everything we know:

The former Sage HQ, known as North Park, has been vacant since the pandemic, after staff moved to home working and Sage relocated to Cobalt Business Park.

The building opened in 2004 as part of a £55 million project and was once home to more than 1,500 employees, who had previously worked across several sites including Regent Centre and Benton Park.

At the time it opened, the building was shortlisted for the British Council for Offices Corporate Workplace Project Award 2005 and was runner-up in the Landmark Awards office development category.

The huge 212,865 sq ft office featured:

• A large central atrium

• Café and restaurant

• Seating areas

• Gym and leisure facilities

• Six office blocks linked together by the atrium

Recent images from inside showed abandoned desks, chairs, dead plants and even smashed internal windows after years of being left empty.

Avant Homes now plans to redevelop the 28.9-acre site into around 320 new homes.

The proposed development will include:

• Up to 320 homes.

• Around 15% (48 homes) classed as affordable housing.

• A mix of family homes and apartments.

• Public open spaces.

• Walking and cycling routes throughout the development.

The existing office building is expected to be demolished, subject to planning approval.

Sage first put the site up for sale in 2021 ahead of relocating to Cobalt Business Park.

The move reportedly resulted in a one-off charge of around £60 million for Sage due to the accelerated depreciation of the Great Park building.

Property experts had long suggested the site would be better suited to residential development, assisted living or a mixed-use scheme rather than remaining as offices.

Avant Homes has confirmed:

"We own the Sage HQ site and are looking to secure outline planning permission to enable the delivery of up to 320 homes."

Planning permission has not yet been granted, with outline plans currently under consideration.

What do you think?

Is this the right use for such a large empty site?

Or would you have preferred to see the landmark building brought back into use as offices or for another purpose?