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Bold plans have been unveiled to create a huge shopping and leisure destination in the heart of Newcastle using up to 60 shipping containers, with the potential to create more than 500 jobs.

North East leisure developers Dan­­ieli Holdings have revealed plans for Stack Newcastle – a “box park” which would extend the firm’s lease at the former Odeon cinema site for four years.

The Newcastle firm is already preparing to transform the empty site on Pilgrim Street into a winter wonderland with the return of Hadrian’s Tipi this month, complete with a double teepee, fire pits, German-style retail huts and a host of bars and pop-up restaurants from local firms.

The new £1m plans would see them operate from the sizeable plot of land until 2022 from April next year, with a collection of more than 50 independent cafes, bars, restaurants and shops set inside the converted containers, also providing a platform for a multitude of North East start-ups, creating and sustaining hundreds of jobs.

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In ambitious plans being submitted to Newcastle City Council this week, Danieli Holdings wants to convert the land with a tightly-designed formation of around 60 shipping containers over two decks, akin to similar ventures in London’s Croydon, Shoreditch and Brixton, where shipping container markets draw in thousands of visitors every day.

The box park would be the biggest of its kind outside of London, with detailed documents showing how the commercial hub will combine the best elements of food festivals and continental markets.

A lower level of shipping containers could be lined up to create a row of shop fronts on Pilgrim Street, with a second row opening out onto New Bridge Street West.

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Galleys and staircases will lead to an upper level packed with pop-up street food specialists and bars, including some run by Danieli Holdings, which operates Yolo Townhouse in nearby High Bridge and Yolo Ponteland.

Ballustrades will look down upon a central pop-up plaza where a range of leisure events are being plotted, potentially joining forces with council programmers to stage events to include the whole community, including anything from yoga classes and art exhibitions to fashion shows, live music events, workshops, pop-up food and drink festivals and even weddings.

A large amount of public green space, with potential for picnic areas, seating areas and bean bags on artificial grass are also included in the plans, as well as the potential for a large projector screen to show films and visual arts.

(Image: Danieli Holdings)

Three entrances are planned, on Pilgrim Street, New Bridge Street West opposite the central library, and at the corner of the two streets, facing the bottom of Northumberland Street. Danieli Holdings is applying for permission to open from 8am to 1am, seven days a week.

Commercial property agency Bradley Hall is marketing the units at the site, and some of the tenants who will be taking part in the Hadrian’s Tipi event have already expressed an interest.

Tim Aisbitt, associate director at Bradley Hall, said: “This innovative development is set to provide national and local retail and leisure operators with a unique trading space in a prime position in the centre of Newcastle. Stack is set to support local enterprise by presenting the rare opportunity for start-ups and SME’s to gain a city centre presence adjacent to region’s busiest high street. The development will also host a variety of different events and is set to be a real hub in what is the first of its kind in the region.

(Image: Danieli Holdings)

“We are delighted to be working on this exciting new addition to Newcastle and are pleased to have already secured tenants off plan and look forward to speaking with interested parties.”

Danieli Holdings plans to contract a host of other local companies to piece together Stack Newcastle, including Newcastle engineering consultancy Patrick Parsons, fit-out specialists One Concept, technology group Luminous, Abbey Electrical and Newcastle interior designers Collective Design.

Director Neill Winch is encouraging start-ups to get in touch and use Stack as a launch pad for their new businesses, and says the box park would serve up a host of socio-economic benefits by integrating into the universities and colleges, linking with arts, culture and community groups while regenerating an area which could otherwise lay derelict for several years.

Mr Winch, group chief executive for Danieli Holdings and associated companies, said: “This is a mixed use, retail and leisure temporary development for up to four years and we are encouraging local businesses, new start-ups, to contact Tim Aisbitt at Bradley Hall for a tenants pack.”