£1m boost for UK-first writing centre signed off

A £1M funding boost for efforts to create a UK-first centre for writing in Newcastle has been signed off.

- DANIEL HOLLAND

Claire Malcolm, CEO of New Writing North

Newcastle City Council agreed to the latest injection of public cash into the flagship project on Monday night, in order to enable the purchase of a listed city centre building that will house it.

It is hoped that the centre, which will be led by charity New Writing North and Northumbria University, will provide better opportunities for talented writers across the North of England and turn Tyneside into a “superpower” in the publishing industry.

Originally earmarked for Bolbec Hall, the latest plan is to establish the centre in the Old Post Office building on St Nicholas Street.