Swapping pasties for pews
FORMER GREGGS SITE MAY BECOME COMMUNITY’S NEW PLACE OF WORSHIP
PLANS have been submitted for a place of worship to open at the former Greggs factory site in Gosforth.
Developer Adderstone Group wants to convert three industrial units into a ‘place of community worship.’
The Tyneside Vineyard, part of the Life Vineyard Church wants to move into the site.
The Christian church says it has struggled to find a location and that the low cost and high number of parking spaces available on the site would make it perfect for them.
Vineyard has a base at Byker and holds worship at Gosforth Civic Theatre and Marley Hill Community Centre on Sundays.
In the planning application, the Tyneside Vineyard says: “We wish to transform a community and unleash the extraordinary potential of men, women and children, providing a place for people to gather and build friendships and are seeking to create a safe place for people who may well feel marginalised and lonely in the wider society. The value of community and helping people find a place to belong is fundamental to the culture of the organisation.”
This comes as Adderstone Group launched an appeal against Newcastle City Council’s decision to refuse permission to build luxury housing on the site of the now derelict Greggs factory.
The landowner has said it intends to let out the units to businesses – or in this case a church – however is still lodging an appeal ‘out of principle.’
Ian Baggett, CEO of Adderstone Group, said: “We are now committed to subdividing and letting the old sheds but, out of principle, we wanted to see what the planning inspectorate thought of Newcastle City’s U-turn and refusal.
“I suppose the outcome of the public inquiry will determine our future appetite for investment into brownfield housing developments.”
The plans have been submitted to Newcastle City Council and a decision is expected to be made by a planning officer before the end of July.