City skyscraper enabled by founder of Newcastle’s Chinatown

The man credited with being the founder of Newcastle’s Chinatown has now enabled the creation of a second landmark through selling the site of the city’s impending skyscraper to its developer

Peter Cheng, who opened the first Chinese business on Newcastle’s famous Stowell Street in 1978, sold one of his properties on the city’s Rutherford Street to allow the site to become the city’s tallest building, an eagerly-anticipated 26-floor Dubai-style apartment block.

The £40m skyscraper, called Hadrian Tower, was granted planning permission earlier this year and work has recently got underway to bring plans for the 162 apartments to reality.

Mr Cheng had owned the Rutherford Street site since 1984 and used it as a warehouse for his Wing Hong supermarket. While significant investment was made over the years in improving the building, more recently it had become derelict, having not been used since 2002. The Cheng family have declined a number of previous offers to sell the property.

However, Mr Cheng – who also owns the well-known Palace Garden Chinese restaurant on Stowell Street – and his son Ken agreed to sell the site to enable the creation of the skyscraper, which has been hailed as a ‘beacon of economic investment’ for the city.

Ken Cheng said: “When we first bought our Rutherford Street warehouse, the whole of Newcastle was different. That was a main route through the city – St James Boulevard didn’t exist – whereas Stowell Street was the absolute opposite. There were no other Chinese businesses when we first opened, there weren’t even streetlights.

“The whole dynamic of Newcastle has changed so much since then, and through the sale of our warehouse, we are enabling the creation of this new tower. We have been talking to the developers for three years about this project, and 26 floors is a big thing for Newcastle, it will be very important for inward investment.

“My dad is often known as the ‘founder of Chinatown’ for his role in establishing Stowell Street as what it is today, and Chinatown has now become a gateway which Newcastle is known for. Having made such a big contribution, we are very proud he is now able to help play a role in this significant new gateway to the city, which is the future of Newcastle.”

The Cheng family were represented in the sale by Alan Harkness at Newcastle law firm Sintons, who has been their trusted advisor for over 30 years. He also acted for the family in the purchase of the Rutherford Street site.

Mr Harkness said: “Peter Cheng had a huge impact on the future of Newcastle through initiating the transformation of Stowell Street into the vibrant community it is today, and it is very fitting that he and his family are now involved in what is set to become the city’s most iconic modern creation.

“The construction of the skyscraper is one of the most exciting projects we have seen in Newcastle, and will undoubtedly be an attraction for investors from across the UK and indeed the whole world. I am very pleased to have been able to complete this transaction on behalf of Peter, Ken and their family.”