Don’t spoil the view
IMPACT ON CLUB HASN’T BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT – SUPPORTERS
NEWCASTLE United fans are urging city chiefs to reject £120m building plans that would block views of St James’ Park and prevent the stadium from being expanded.
Proposals to build hundreds of flats, offices, and a hotel next to the stadium were unveiled this summer, but the Newcastle United Supporters Trust (NUST) has now added its name to the hundreds of objectors.
Magpies supporters fear that a huge transformation of Strawberry Place would obscure a “defining feature of the Newcastle skyline”.
There are also long-standing concerns among many fans that any development of the land around St James’ Park will mean that the Gallowgate End could never be extended.
Durham-based Helios Investment Partners and Doncaster firm Marrico Asset Management LLP purchased the Strawberry Place site from Magpies owner Mike Ashley for £9m earlier this year.
In an objection lodged with Newcastle City Council on October 4 via Richard Buxton Solicitors, the NUST states that views of the iconic stadium must be protected – something which the building plan “clearly fails” to do.
The trust, which represents 10,000 fans, adds that the height of buildings is “out of keeping with what the site can accommodate” and claims that no proper analysis has been done to show how the project would impact on St James’ Park.
Another one of the 676 people who have so far objected to the scheme told the council: “The development will hinder any potential future development of St James’ Park, the heartbeat of the city.
“With the club apparently up for sale, new owners with ambition would bring life back to the club and fans would come flocking back.
“If there is no scope for expansion of the stadium, potential new owners may well be put off.” NUST has urged council planners to refuse the scheme, or at least force the developers to provide a “proper analysis” of its visual impact, and reopen public consultation on the scheme in the event of the developer amending its designs.
In newly submitted documents, Ryder Architecture states that the height of the buildings “has been designed and tested to ensure that they sit comfortably with the adjacent buildings and within the wider context”.
It adds: “The footprints of the new buildings have been located to preserve key views to the Gallowgate stand of St James’ Park from both the head of St James’ Boulevard and the Chinese Gate.” The scheme now comprises a 21-storey building with 204 apartments inside, a 12-storey office block, a 13-storey hotel with 200 bedrooms and a residential building of 10 floors with 124 flats.
The Sir Bobby Robson Memorial Garden would be relocated above the St James’ Metro station.
A council spokesperson said: “Any amendments to a planning application are available to view via the council’s planning website.
“We will continue to receive representations on this application up until the date of the planning committee meeting, although we would advise people to get them in before then.”