A landmark £200m development is underway to transform Newcastle's historic Stephenson Quarter into a vibrant cultural, living and working area.

Located next to the city's Central Station, the first phase of the Stephenson Quarter project will feature a 251-room Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre, which will also house a luxury spa.

Expected to be complete within two years, the first phase will also include a 357-space multi-storey car park, 35,000sq ft (3,252sq m) of offices and a large landscaped public space.

Later phases will see the addition of residential, commercial, restaurant and retail facilities, as well as an art gallery and exhibition space.

The 10-acre project is under the leadership of Newcastle-based developer Silverlink and represents a partnership between Silverlink, RBS CIB, Newcastle City Council, Miller Construction, The Intercontinental Hotel Group, and the Local Enterprise Partnership.

The project is a catalyst for the regeneration to the west of the Quayside, and the area designated by Newcastle City Council as the Discovery Centre.

John Dryden, regional director at RBS CIB, said: "The hotel and wider initiative has great potential to add enormous value to Newcastle and underlines the potential the city has to offer.

"Silverlink have vast experience in real estate and property redevelopment and I am confident the new Crowne Plaza Hotel and Conference Centre will be an enormous success."