Brazilia of the North

During the Second World War both National and Local governments began
planning the rebuilding and modernisation of our cities. For some bombed
places the opportunity to redesign a town or city to make it a better place to
live and work was regarded as a positive outcome after the struggle that had
done so much damage. Newcastle's 1st plan for this brave new world was
published in 1945 and although the City had suffered comparatively little
damage most of it was regarded as worn out and old fashioned.

The plan was a fantasy to wipe away the old city and replace it with a
Soviet style grand design. Despite the impossibility of the project
it was agreed in 1953 by Central Government that the the City should be
redesigned as a 'Modern' City to meet the economic and social
needs of people by creating a new City Centre and transport infrastructure.

That resulted in the creation of the City Planning Department in 1960 and the
publication of Wilfred Burns first report on Central Redevelopment in 1961
' the process will be one of Central Area revolution rather than evolution'
When T. Dan Smith became leader of the Council he became the promoter of
the plan and declared that Newcastle would become the 'Brazilia of the North'

Although the plan was not completed it did bring about some massive changes
with very mixed results, leaving us with lessons to be learnt and a City that
survived despite misguided development and destruction of 56 listed buildings
to make way for a Shopping Centre.

This is John Dobson Street ,
a new 'street' to function as a by-pass for Northumberland Street so that it could become a pedestrian zone.
John Dobson, perhaps Newcastle's finest Architect must have turned in his grave.

The foot of Northumberland Street not long after it became a pedestrian zone
and one of the most valuable shopping streets in England.

Traffic was a main concern of post War planners but the attempts to tackle the
problem did not respect the human scale of the City streets and, when abandoned half
finished, destructive through routes became a hostile environment filled with
noise and pollution.

Redevelopment made possible by compulsory purchase orders broke up many
communities and resulted in the demolition of many well built terraces that today
would be sought after as valuable inner city residences.

Only the Byker Wall development offered real progress for the local community
and set a standard that other cities aspire to.

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