Planning has been granted for a £100m leisure, sport, food and drink development at Newcastle Quayside, featuring a 460 ft observation wheel called the “Whey Aye”.
The development will measure 344,445 sq ft and create 800 jobs. The attraction will be 16ft (5m) taller than the London Eye, making it the tallest observation wheel in Europe.
The “Giants on the Quayside” development, located on the site of a vacant flour mill on the banks of the River Tyne, will also feature a new food and beverage experience, called The Giant’s Quay.
It will also host a family entertainment centre, giant sport deck and state-of-the-art virtual golf club called The Quayside Golf Club.
An application for a 685 sq m LED screen will be considered at a later date.
Developer World Wheel Company Newcastle, based in the city centre, said that construction will begin early next year. It will open to the public in 2023.
Nigel Hartley, chief operating officer of World Wheel Company Newcastle, said: “Our £100m investment in building The Whey Aye and Giants on the Quayside is just the beginning of the beneficial impact our development will have.
“We expect to create up to 800 jobs and will help generate many more investment and employment opportunities, thanks to increased tourism and commerce within both Newcastle and the wider North East.”
In partnership with Newcastle City Council, a public competition will be launched for people to propose designs for The Geordie Giant, a human-shaped structure around 39 ft (12 m) tall, which will be based at the development. Competition details will be revealed later this year.
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