The problems endured by the city of Newcastle throughout the 1980s and beyond were characteristic of much of the northeast of England. Recent years have seen the city and the region as a whole make great strides in arresting a decline that was symptomatic of the demise of heavy industry and manufacturing in the UK as a whole.
The former industrial powerhouse has since emerged as a fast-developing centre of commerce, culture and professional services, as a string of regeneration projects have given the broader surrounding area – encompassing Gateshead and Sunderland and stretching down to Teesside – a much-needed overhaul.
