A decision on the future of a huge arena and conference centre planned for the Gateshead Quayside will not be made until next year.

The North East mayor’s office has confirmed that it is yet to conclude a study into whether the stalled riverside development can realistically go ahead and in what form.

Construction was meant to start on the “world class” leisure and events complex in autumn 2023, but the project has been hit with severe delays as its expected costs spiralled.

With building work yet to begin on a prime plot of riverside land between the Glasshouse music centre and Baltic art gallery, the North East Combined Authority (NECA) stepped in earlier this year to launch a review of the scheme and assess what market demand there was for the development.

It had been hoped that the

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