Academics have unveiled plans for a £40m super museum in the region.

Newcastle University and several partners aim to create a cultural quarter in the north end of Newcastle to balance the attractions of the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides.

Regional development office director John Dersley, who is overseeing the project, said The Combined Museum would create a counter-balance to the cultural attractions on the riverside. It would also mean more people could get access to nationally-important collections.

The proposals would combine the natural history collections at the Hancock Museum with the historical collections of the university's Shefton Greek Museum and Museum of Antiquities, which houses prehistoric and Roman artefacts.

The plans include restoring the listed Hancock Museum, and redesigning its interior and that of the Chaplaincy building, to provide an entrance, shop, cafe and restaurant, libraries and offices.

There will also be a new building to replace the medical centre, providing a 140-seat auditorium.

The scheme has been developed with the Natural History Society of Antiquaries, Newcastle City Council, One NorthEast and Northumbria University.

The university council has agreed to put in an £18m bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The creation of the Cultural Quarter had been a major element of Newcastle Gateshead's failed bid for Capital of Culture 2008.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor John Goddard said: "This project is of the scale and significance of the Baltic and Sage and, as such, would complete a trilogy of music, visual and heritage developments."