The building formed part of a wider initiative in the early 1970s to redevelop a residential area known as Archbold Terrace.[1] The complex included a 6-storey office block at the back (i.e. north) of the site, a 6-storey office block at the front left (i.e. south west) known as Scottish Life House and a 10-storey tower block at the front right (i.e. south east)[2] as well as a public house known as the Royal Archer.[3] The design of the public house was commended by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1976.[3]
Sandyford House, which was designed in the brutalist style and built by Sir Robert McAlpine with a reinforced concrete frame, was completed in c.1974.[4] The design of the complex allowed vehicle access to Sandyford House from the south through an opening in the main frontage of Scottish Life House; Sandyford House became the offices and meeting place of Tyne and Wear County Council when it was formed in April 1974.[5] The punk comic Viz, established by Chris Donald in 1979, was also based in the complex.[6][7]
After Tyne and Wear County Council was abolished in 1986, Sandyford House was adapted for use by the Department of Social Security.[8] In the 1990s a 5-storey block on the east side of the complex was occupied by the energy efficiency business, Eaga, and became known as "Eaga House".[9] The whole complex was acquired by the developer, Jomast, in 2004,[10] who branded it Jesmond Three Sixty.[11] After Eaga moved to Partnership House in Gosforth in 2009, Jomast submitted proposals to Newcastle City Council for the conversion of Eaga House into apartments, a project which was completed in January 2016.[6] The developer went on to present proposals for the conversion of Sandyford House into apartments as well in December 2017.[12][13]
Following the acquisition and demolition of the former Quaker Meeting House, located on an adjacent site on the east side, Jomast also presented proposals to build an 18-storey tower in the area.[14]
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