Byker, Newcastle - Kay's AS Geography

"Byker is a pioneering social housing development of European importance and influence. It has proved to be a successful estate with tenants, but in recent years a number of problems have developed that threaten the quality of life on the estate and may undermine its long-term sustainability. These problems are principally social, but issues of public and private space, building fabric, security and maintenance, also need to be addressed." Newcastle Council report The Byker Way Forward Jan 2001 (no longer available online)

"English Heritage is delighted that the Byker Estate, one of the nation’s most important 20th century housing schemes, has been listed. The Estate’s groundbreaking design has been influential across Europe and has proved a pioneering model for its approach to public participation. Residents of the Estate and Newcastle City Council have long recognised the architectural value of Byker." English Heritage statement in government press release Jan 2007

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In the mid-sixties Newcastle City Corporation took the decision to redevelop the Byker area of Newcastle upon Tyne. Originally Byker was a Victorian working-class area of typical densely-built terraces. By the 1960s much of the housing needed major repair and upgrading. In 1953 Byker had nearly 1,200 dwellings considered unfit for human habitation (many lacked bathrooms), yet 80% of residents wanted to stay in Byker, a location on the eastern edge of the city centre close to industry on the riverside. Newcastle council aimed to clear the slums but keep the community. The appointment of Ralph Erskine as architect in 1969 was seen as an inspired choice and one sensitive to local needs. Erskine's Plan of Intent was adopted by the Council in 1970.

The development project was run as a "rolling programme" so local people could continue living in the area during the building work. The architects kept residents involved in the design process and it is thought the early success of Byker was as much to do with this as its innovative architecture.

The most famous part of the Byker redevelopment is the Byker Wall. Work on the wall started in 1971 and it is designed to cut down on traffic noise to improve the environment of Byker. The windows on the wall are the backs of the maisonettes and are small as they face north. Usually, the rooms that don't require heating are situated at the back (such as bathrooms and kitchens).

The south facing walls of the maisonettes have balconies to catch the sun in the summer. Ground floor flats have gardens. These flats are usually given to families so that children have access to the gardens. Older people are also given ground floor flats to increase accessibility. The windows on the south face are much bigger to catch the maximum amount of light and heat and are the main living rooms.

Part of the overall redevelopment of the area included improved transport links with the city centre and beyond. Byker benefits from its own Metro station as well as improved road links. Originally, a motorway was planned, but this was scaled down to form a bypass.

Byker has suffered the kinds of the social problems common to other inner-city urban housing areas, including juvenile crime and vandalism. In parts of Byker turnover of tenancies is high and limits on the money available for maintenance and repairs has led to further deterioration. Neighbourliness has been undermined as families have moved away - particularly those in employment. Some shops and services have been abandoned and boarded up. Open landscaping invites vandalism and youth crime includes break-ins and muggings. In the mid-1990s it has been estimated one in three of Byker's adult inhabitants was unemployed.

The demand for rented accommodation in Byker was depressed throughout the 1990s and up to 2003. There had been a general decline in demand to rent council housing across Newcastle upon Tyne city. In some parts of the Byker estate it has been suggested it may be possible to convert dwellings into family homes with defined gardens for which there is greater demand. It should be noted that house prices in Newcastle have been lower than many other British cities and there has been a good supply of rented housing in 'upmarket' areas such as Heaton and Jesmond where there has been considerable gentrification. Like many other urban areas house prices increased rapidly in Newcastle between 2002 and 2006. Homes for first time buyers have doubled in price. The council has attempted to repond to the increased demand for affordable housing with a mixture of schemes in its housing strategy document (2006-2021) including social rented and low cost 'market' housing (ie for sale).

The East End Pool and Library has introduced high quality leisure facilities to the area. A large purpose-built Morrisons store opened at the end of the Shields Road in 2002, providing jobs for unemployed people (a stated aim of the development).

The council's 2001 report stated the problems were most acute at Bolam Coyne, 9-12 Cushat Close and 44-66 Whickham Gardens. Although Bolam Coyne was boarded up, it was thought it could be saved from demolition. One proposal was to demolish part of Cushat Close to enhance Bolam Coyne. In the end the 2001 report proposed that Bolam Coyne, 10 and 12 Cushat Close be demolished and landscaped to a court for the properties on Laverock Court and Cushat close. This was the preferred option of residents. It was suggested the social problems of Bolam Coyne would stick in the minds of the residents for a long-time. However, it was stated this option would be difficult to carry out if the estate became listed. The report said Whickham Gardens had also become stigmatised and was for a time the focus of criminal activity.

In May 2003 the council's budget included £1 million for security measures on the Byker estate. To improve neighbourhood management and reduce the fear of crime, the council introduced wardens in the Byker area including the Shields Road. Street or environmental wardens keep an eye on untidy gardens and stray wheelie bins as well as youth activities. The wardens scheme has been rolled out across Newcastle's residental estates and the wardens work with neighbourhood teams.

The East End Education Partnership Action Zone, based at Benfield School, is a government funded initiative, one of the seven strands of Newcastle Excellence in Cities and managed by the East End Education Partnership Board. The Action Zone works with nine schools, including Byker Primary, in the east of Newcastle supporting pupils from 4 – 14 years old. The overall aim of the Action Zone is to help raise standards of achievement in literacy in primary schools and in English, Maths and Science in the three secondary schools. One long term aim is to end the cycle of unemployment by making sure young people leave school equipped for the jobs market or to enter further education.

Among the options for Byker suggested in the 2001 report were to hand the whole estate over to a private developer as a redevelopment scheme, to turn parts of it into a sheltered housing scheme or to turn it into student accommodation. In February 2008 the city council approved a scheme for developers to build a mixed development of flats and houses on part of the estate, some for sale and some to rent.

The area has been proposed by English Heritage for Grade II * listing. Listing will mean any change requires legal consent. It is hoped listing will mean proposals for Byker will maintain the close involvement of residents. Listing should help to secure additional resources, improve the management of the estate and support the community in encouraging positive social change. Residents say they want improved street lighting and more visible and secure parking. Listing was granted in 2007. Listing press release

In January 2007 the Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced Byker had been Grade II* listed. Minister David Lammy said:

In May 2004, the council advertised a two-stage competition on the architecture page of The Guardian and on the web. Much was made of the need for sustainable development and the involvement of the community.

By May 2005 the Newcastle City Council site reported that five named designs had made it to the short list. The project office had also opened at Whickham Gardens in Byker. The short-listed design teams attended a two day briefing session during February 2005.

Political change: However, the political make up of the council has changed. Newcastle is no longer a Labour-controlled authority and the Liberal Democrats are in charge. This means the priorities have changed. In April 2007 a new Local Development Scheme was put forward. The LDS says 'much is in place' and progress will be monitored, but the Byker area does not seem to be a major focus with the city centre, Walker Riverside and Benwell receiving more attention.

You can catch up with progress in the Byker and Ouseburn area by clicking on the 'your area' tab at the Bridging website http://www.bridgingng.org.uk/site/. Bridging NewcastleGateshead was awarded £28.8m in continued funding for housing market renewal for 2009-2010 in April 2009.


East End Pool and Library - situated between Byker Wall and the Shields Road

Ralph Erskine - the architect