Student flats likely to be knocked back
council expected to reject bid after backlash
CONTROVERSIAL plans to build an eight-storey student accommodation block in Newcastle city centre are expected to be knocked back.
Versant Developments’ designs for 70 studio apartments at the corner of Westgate Road and St James’ Boulevard prompted a backlash from campaigners, who argued that it would block out the historic Robert Sinclair Tobacco mural.
Now Newcastle City Council is expected to reject the developer’s application – which attracted 31 objections from neighbours – when it goes before a planning committee meeting next week.
According to city planning officers, the proposal ‘fails to respond positively to local distinctiveness and character fails to respect and enhance significant views and the setting of heritage assets, including the adjacent iconic wall mural.’
As well as the historic mural, which dates back to 1856, the site is also close to the Grade I listed New Tyne Theatre, Grade II listed Georgian terraces fronting Westgate Road and the town wall defences.
A council report states: “Whilst the principle of redeveloping this vacant gap site and the principle of residential use is acceptable, the proposed development is considered to be inappropriate in terms of its scale, massing and detailed design, in terms of its impact on designated and non-designated heritage assets, and in terms of its impact on residential amenity.
“The proposed building fails to enhance and improve the places in which people live; fails to secure a good standard of amenity for all existing and future occupants of land and buildings; and fails to conserve heritage assets in a manner appropriate to their significance contrary to core land use principles.”
It adds that the flats would ‘have an unacceptable adverse impact on the amenity of existing residents in neighbouring properties.’
In its application to the council, the developer said that the designs ‘represent the effective use of a long-term gap site to create a landmark building at this important node at the gateway to the city centre.’
However, another city centre housing plan is set to get the green light next week.
The Hanro Group is proposing a seven-storey block in Bath Lane, comprising 21 apartments.
The site, next to the Grade II listed Print Works, is currently empty and overgrown. Council bosses say it is one of ‘a few, very prominent, vacant corner plots within the Central Conservation Area’ and it has been considered a development site for many years.
The planning committee will meet at 10am on April 20 at the City Library.