Iconic Sinclair ad sign saved
PLANNING INSPECTOR REJECTS APPEAL
AN HISTORIC Newcastle city centre advertising sign has been saved, after a developer lost its latest bid to block it out with student flats.
The well-known Robert Sinclair Tobacco sign had been under threat of disappearing behind the eight-storey housing block, but a government inspector has now backed the city council’s decision to oppose the plans.
Dismissing Versant Developments’ appeal over the controversial 70-apartment design, planning inspector Sarah Housden said the Blenheim House mural and the neighbouring Robert Sinclair building were “iconic and landmark buildings at a key gateway to the city centre with a high cultural and historic significance”.
Ms Housden also found the development would damage the living conditions of neighbours due to a drop in daylight and sunlight levels.
The inspector’s decision has come a huge relief to residents who campaigned against the project for more than two years.
Jane Hodson-Hamilton, a resident of Blenheim House, said: “This is good news for the community, for the people who live nearby, and for our culture.
“I am pleased that the inspector has recognised the importance of that particular site.
“Sometimes you think that you fight these things and your views will not be taken into consideration, so it is really good to see that the inspector listened to what we were saying and put that before profit.”
Newcastle City Council first rejected plans for the derelict former Carlisle pub site at the corner of Westgate Road and St James’ Boulevard, in April last year.
Versant appealed the decision to the Government’s planning inspectorate, arguing at a hearing in August that the land was in a “dilapidated, derelict, vacant state” having lain disused for the last 50 years.
They also claimed the century-old mural is no more than “opportunistic advertising” and that the student housing would generate £1.4m-a-year for the city economy.
But, in her decision notice, Ms Housden said that the loss of the historic mural “would be harmful to the significance of both Blenheim House and the Sinclair buildings”.
She added that, while the economic benefits of redeveloping the site were not in dispute, any benefits would be outweighed by the damage to the city centre’s heritage.
Ms Housden said: “I have concluded that the heritage harm would not be outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal.
“The proposed development would also cause material harm to the living conditions of adjoining occupiers, in conflict with the policies in the development plan which seek to ensure a good standard of amenity.
“Together, these issues weigh heavily against the appeal proposal.” A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: “We are pleased the decision of planning committee has been upheld by the inspectorate, justifying the carefully reached decision of members in April 2018.
“It is reassuring that the Sinclair Building and Blenheim House were recognised in the appeal decision for their ‘iconic and landmark’ status and their ‘high cultural and historic significance’ which we were keen to protect when the decision was made.
“Committee members deliberate on items brought before them with integrity and impartiality to make decisions purely on planning grounds, as demonstrated by the outcome of this appeal.”
I have concluded that the heritage harm would not be outweighed by the public benefits of the proposal
Sarah Housden