Scheme Reaches Halfway Point

Reporter asks: “Ok Robin, could you give us a little bit of history to Lancaster
Buildings?”

Councillor Robin Studd answers: “Yes, it's a building put up in the 1930s, it's in a
art deco style, it's believed that it was built as a result of the Depression in the 1930s
and provided local employment, but some of the fine detail is quite remarkable both
on the exterior and of course the inside of the building as well.”

Reporter asks: “Great!! The refurbishment now has echoes to the reason the building
was actually put there in the first place?”

Councillor Robin Studd answers: “Very much so, unfortunately with the difficult
climate at the moment, but the reason for doing this up is because it's a Grade II star
listed building it belongs to the borough council, it's in the middle of Newcastle and it
is an absolutely wonderful site for prestige offices which is what we are trying to
change it into and to change it in some ways to the 1930s the look it had we are
restricted somewhat because it is listed and therefore we have to make sure inside the
building we have to retain all the original features all the marble for example is there,
which is quite remarkable is going to be retained and refurbished, so it will be a very
splendid building from the inside when it is finished.”

Reporter asks: “It certainly seems a large scale development, can you give us an idea
of the cost that's involved with this?”

Councillor Robin Studd answers: “It's about £2 million it's a huge sum but it's a
very big building, I've been inside the building and it's much bigger than I thought it
was and much grander than I thought it was than looking at it from outside.”

Reporter asks: “And when is the scheme actually due to finish?”

Councillor Robin Studd answers: “We are hoping before Christmas, because we've
told the shopkeepers locally they will be able to carry out their Christmas trading
normally that means removing all the scaffolding around it by November, December,
it's on schedule so it's fine.”

Reporter asks: “Great stuff, can you give us an idea of what sort of tenants the
council is looking for once the scheme is completed?”

Councillor Robin Studd answers: “Well obviously the shopkeepers on the ground
floor will be the same, many of them retained their lease and will be trading this is an
important thing that they are still trading actively here, upstairs we are looking for
prestige offices therefore a single or multiple clients prepared to take on fairly
upmarket offices it will be very grand, it has feel of a 1930s liner, it's like working on
the Queen Mary when you go into the building, really very grand and superb views of
Newcastle.”