Gateshead sits on the south bank of the River Tyne, facing Newcastle across the Tyne Bridge and the Millennium Bridge, and had a population of 196,151 at the 2021 census. It is often mistaken for part of Newcastle, but it is a town in its own right within the Gateshead Metropolitan Borough, historically part of County Durham. Its industrial roots run deep: coal mining here is recorded from 1344, and the Hawks family's ironworks employed over 2,000 people in the 19th century.
We are Business Mortgages Broker. We arrange owner-occupier mortgages for limited companies buying or refinancing the premises they trade from in Gateshead and the rest of Tyne and Wear. We are a broker, not a lender, and this is commercial finance for business premises, not a residential mortgage.
Premises finance on the Team Valley Trading Estate
The Team Valley Trading Estate was once the largest purpose-built commercial estate in the UK and is still one of the larger ones. It occupies the flat, low-lying valley on the western edge of the town, in contrast to the steep rise from Gateshead Quays to the town centre. Occupiers include De La Rue's largest banknote printing facility and Myson Radiators, and Clarke Chapman is beside the A167.
For an owner-managed manufacturer, distributor or trade counter, a freehold or long leasehold unit on an estate like this is familiar security. Lenders know how such units let and sell, which helps both the valuation and the loan to value. A business mortgage lets the company stop paying rent to an estate landlord and build equity in the building instead. Access is good: the A1 runs past the town and the A184 links it to Sunderland.
Wholesalers, couriers and plant hire firms in Gateshead
ONS UK Business Counts 2026, local units.
Show as a table
| Sector | Businesses | Gateshead share | UK share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction and building trades | 940 | 13.2% | 12.6% |
| Retail | 840 | 11.8% | 9.4% |
| Professional, scientific and technical | 755 | 10.6% | 13.9% |
| Business support services | 600 | 8.4% | 8.1% |
| Restaurants, cafes and pubs | 500 | 7% | 6.2% |
| Health and social care | 485 | 6.8% | 5.6% |
| Wholesale | 360 | 5% | 3.7% |
| Manufacturing and engineering | 350 | 4.9% | 4.3% |
| Property | 340 | 4.8% | 4.4% |
- 1.9xrental and leasing90 businesses
- 1.8xpostal and courier services155 businesses
- 1.4xresidential care110 businesses
- 1.4xsocial work and day care170 businesses
A figure of 2.0x means the trade makes up twice the share of local businesses that it does across the UK.
Wholesale makes up 5% of Gateshead's 7,160 businesses against 3.7% nationally, and rental and leasing firms, such as plant and equipment hire, run at 1.85 times the UK share. Courier and postal businesses appear at 1.84 times. Gateshead also has a solid base of bigger firms: only 77% are micro businesses.
Wholesalers and hire firms buying premises usually need a warehouse with yard space and good road access. Lenders will look at stock levels, turnover and the business's track record, and plain industrial buildings are usually easy to value.
How a commercial property loan works for a Gateshead-on-Tyne business
Lenders active in owner-occupier lending typically lend 70 to 75% of the lower of price and valuation, up to 80% for strong cases. Indicative pricing is 6.0 to 7.5% a year, subject to status, accounts and valuation, over terms of 5 to 25 years, with a first legal charge registered at HM Land Registry and usually a director's guarantee.
On the purchase, Stamp Duty Land Tax at non-residential rates is 0% on the first £150,000, 2% on the next £100,000 and 5% on anything over £250,000 (HMRC, rates as at October 2026; check the current rates before you buy). Our commercial stamp duty guide covers leases and VAT, which can apply on estate units.
Illustrative example. A radiator installer buys a £650,000 Team Valley unit. A 75% loan is £487,500 and the deposit £162,500. SDLT on that price is £22,000.
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear: industrial units up 18%
Valuation Office Agency, non-domestic rating stock of properties, March 2026. Average rateable value is the VOA's estimate of annual rent, not a sale price.
- Industrial and warehouse2,420properties on the rating listUp 18% since 2016Average rateable value £30,900factories, workshops, warehouses and trade units
- Offices1,390properties on the rating listDown 4.8% since 2016Average rateable value £13,000offices, including converted buildings
- Shops and retail1,750properties on the rating listDown 3.8% since 2016Average rateable value £37,800shops, showrooms and retail warehouses
- Other commercial1,270properties on the rating listUp 4.1% since 2016Average rateable value £36,300pubs, hotels, surgeries, nurseries, garages and more
Gateshead's estates, from Saltmeadows to Hawkes Road
Named estates and parks listed on Google Maps near Gateshead, October 2026. Listed to show where premises trade locally; we have no connection with the owners or agents.
- Charis Business CentreGateshead NE8 1DP
- Gateshead International Business CentreGateshead NE8 1AN
- Park House Business CentrePark Rd, Gateshead NE8 3EL
- Saltmeadows Industrial EstateGateshead NE8 3AH
- Hawkes Road Industrial EstateGateshead NE8 3DF
- Mulberry Trading EstateGateshead NE10 0AD
- Saltwell Business ParkLow Fell, Gateshead NE9 5BQ
- Hawick Crescent Industrial EstateNewcastle upon Tyne NE6 1AS
- Hawick Trading EstateNewcastle upon Tyne NE6 1AS
- Felling Industrial EstateGateshead NE10 0QH
- Foundry Lane Industrial EstateNewcastle upon Tyne NE6 1LH
- Greenlane Baltic Road Industrial EstateGateshead NE10 0SB
Industrial stock in Gateshead rose 18% to 2,420 units, at an average rateable value of £30,900. Offices fell 4.8% to 1,390, averaging just £13,000. Shops dropped 3.8% to 1,750 but carry a higher average value of £37,800. Expanding industrial supply supports owner-occupiers looking to move from a rented unit into one they own, and gives a valuer recent local evidence to work from.
Refinancing premises around the MetroCentre, the Quays and the town centre
The MetroCentre at Dunston was the largest shopping mall in the UK until 2008. On the riverside, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art occupies a converted flour mill and The Glasshouse International Centre for Music opened in 2004, drawing visitors to bars, restaurants and hotels. Gateshead Interchange is the busiest bus station in Tyne and Wear, and Metro stations link the town to Newcastle, the airport, Sunderland and the coast.
Companies that already own premises here can remortgage their business premises to cut payments or release equity, at indicative pricing of 6.0 to 8.0% a year, subject to status, accounts and valuation. Commercial lending to a limited company is unregulated and falls outside the FCA's regulated mortgage perimeter. Where a deal would be regulated, for example lending to a sole trader or individual, or a property where the borrower or a close family member will live in part of it, we refer it to an appropriately authorised firm.
Gateshead districts where we arrange premises loans
Team Valley
The town's main industrial and trade area, laid out on flat land to the west. Units range from small workshops to large manufacturing plants, and it is the most common location for Gateshead companies buying their own building. Lenders are familiar with the estate, which helps when a valuation is being agreed.
Dunston and the MetroCentre
Dunston is home to the MetroCentre and its own rail station on the Northern network. Retail, leisure and trade businesses cluster around the centre and along the riverside, and Scottish & Newcastle once brewed Newcastle Brown Ale at the Federation Brewery here before production moved away in 2010.
Gateshead Quays
The riverside opposite Newcastle Quayside holds the Baltic and The Glasshouse, linked to the city by the Millennium Bridge. Hospitality and creative businesses are typical occupiers, and the steep climb from the quays to the town centre means premises vary widely in access and layout.
Felling and Heworth
East of the centre, Felling and Heworth both have stations, with Heworth Interchange linking Metro, rail and bus. Small shops, workshops and service businesses here buy freeholds that serve the eastern side of the borough, with quick links into both Gateshead and Newcastle.
Pelaw and Bill Quay
Further east along the river, Pelaw and Bill Quay form part of the Gateshead urban area. Their industrial heritage leaves riverside yards and older commercial buildings that suit trades, contractors and small manufacturers wanting space outside the busier Team Valley.
Birtley
To the south near the A1, Birtley is home to Komatsu UK's construction equipment plant and AEI Cables. Engineering, plant hire and distribution firms that need quick access to the A1 and room for vehicles look here for units they can buy rather than lease.
