Jon, you're right that something needs to be done to prevent any empty building from falling derelict - and the best solution is finding a new use for it. However, as the English Heritage Buildings at Risk register ably illustrates, a building's poor condition should not be an excuse for demolishing it - rather, it should act as an impetus for action. John Dobson's Eldon Square was considered an 'eyesore' prior to its demolition, and look how much that is regretted now. In the 1960s and 1970s, vacancy was used in itself as justification for demolition, but I feel we have moved on from that prevailing discourse now.

The building has various possible uses, possibly echoing the restoration of various Paramount Theatres in the US (see links page). Remember, the building originally had a single, large auditorium and played host to live concerts. There seems no reason why it could not be put back to this form, providing the city with a mid-sized concert venue that would site between the Arena and smaller venues (e.g. the Universities, the Journal Tyne Theatre), particularly given the ongoing uncertainty over the future of the City Hall. Similarly, the AVFest festival in 2003 provided an example of how the building might accommodate a variety of media and performance uses. Of course, much depends on people coming up with viable solutions. However, I've certainly had a number of enquiries from people as a result of this website (and who I've encouraged to contact the owners or Newcastle City Council), while the Council was also advocting an entertainment-based used for the building just a few months ago (see media coverage section of this site).

As for Chelsfield (now bought by Multiplex) develoing the site as a whole, few would dispute the merit in removing Commercial Union House, the building that sticks out into the road. However, Carliol House (former Northern Electric) which forms part of the site is already a listed building, so any development will already have to find a balance between high quality new build and the retention and re-use of what already exists.

So, in summary, I agree that more needs to be done - but let's not fall into the trap of using neglect as an excuse for demolishing a building that IS genuinely important in architectural and historic terms.