The building straddled the eastern end of Westgate Road, and was designed to have the appearance of a "gateway" to the city centre.

[2] According to the Evening Chronicle, by 2001 "it was well-established as one of the ugliest and most unpopular buildings on Tyneside".

[2] Westgate House was featured on the Channel 4 television series, Demolition, where it was voted as one of twelve buildings that deserved to be demolished.

[4] Developers OneNorthEast acquired the building in 2001 and initially considered renovating it as a hotel.

[2] In 2005, they and Newcastle City Council instead announced that the building would be demolished, with the work beginning in late 2006 and finishing in January 2007[5][6] allowing for the site's redevelopment.