Undesignated heritage unveiled: a review of Forth Goods Yard Station’s regeneration plan

Abstract

In contemporary urban landscapes, innovative strategies are increasingly necessary to repurpose post-industrial structures, preserving urban heritage and fostering sustainable environments, yet this transformation demands careful policy considerations involving diverse stakeholders, with choices on unlisted buildings pivotal in shaping landscapes and sustainable development trajectories. Using Newcastle’s Forth Goods Yard Station as a case study, this article examines the interplay between intent, development plans, and architectural outcomes, evaluating the ‘Forth Yards Development Framework, January 2020’ through diverse design concepts to explore reuse scenarios and conservation tactics. Through a research methodology integrating analysis of the development plan, interviews with the Urban Design and Landscape Design groups from Newcastle City Council, and reflections on the plan, including three conceptual design scenarios, insights are sought to validate embedded expectations within the framework, with in-depth interviews and a workshop aiming to assess alignment between intentions, the development plan, and resulting architectural proposals. This project aims to illuminate the complex dynamics in urban regeneration through a comprehensive analysis of Forth Goods Yard Station, advancing understanding of challenges and opportunities associated with the adaptive reuse of unlisted post-industrial railway heritage.