Plans for national writing centre put to government

Plans to create a national writing centre in the North East have been put to the government.

The Centre for Writing would be based at Bolbec Hall in Westgate Road, Newcastle, and would support community writing and reading initiatives.

New Writing North, the charity behind the plan, said the centre would cost £14m and it was seeking £5m from the government's Cultural Development Fund.

Claire Malcolm, the charity's CEO, said the investment would "help train and develop a new generation of local talent".

"I want young people here to be able to grow up to be publishers, writers and creatives without presuming they need to leave the North East to achieve their ambition," she added.

If approved, the centre would provide support for professional writers and publishing businesses across the north of England.

New Writing North said it hoped the centre would create a "hub of creative talent", which has previously been concentrated in London and the South East.

New Writing North and Northumbria University have submitted the funding bid to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and said the money would match grants already pledged by regional partners.

Part of the funding would be used to restore Bolbec Hall, which is a Grade II listed building located next to The Lit and Phil.

The plans for the centre have been supported by publishing firms Hachette UK, Faber & Faber and Simon and Schuster.

Labour's North East Mayor Kim McGuinness has also backed the centre and said she wanted to build the local economy around creative industries.

"Doing so will transform people's life chances, unearth hidden talent and ensure our creative voice is heard on the national and world stage," she said.

"Establishing the Centre for Writing in the North East is a vital first step to make that happen."