City centre block handed to HMRC

NEW pictures of a huge office block being completed in Newcastle city centre show the scale of the operation.

- By GRAEME WHITFIELD

Newcastle's Pilgrim's Quarter, part of the Pilgrim Street regeneration area, has reached a landmark milestone as the new regional centre for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and UK Government hub has been officially handed over.

The block on the site of Newcastle's former Odeon cinema and a number of other buildings has completed its base build and has been handed over for the HMRC to commence its fit-out, ahead of staff moving to the city centre office in 2027.

The 463,000sqft office will accommodate approximately 9,000 HMRC staff, making it the department's largest regional hub in the UK.