Council cops flak in burger plan row

COUNCIL bosses trying to stop a controversial Burger King opening in Newcastle’s West End were accused of being on a “hunt for unicorns” as an inquiry into the future of a disused police station came to an end.

A sixth and final day of hearings over the proposed transformation of the empty Westgate Road station saw developers warn blocking the fast food chain risked leaving the site derelict, while opponents labelled the drive-thru an “eyesore.”

Hadrian Property Investments wants to demolish part of the vacant building to make room for the Burger King, while converting the remainder of the old station into 15 new apartments, shops and a dental surgery.

The scheme was met with a major backlash from locals and was first rejected by Newcastle City Council in September 2020 - but the decision was appealed and its fate now lies with Government planning inspector Jennifer Vyse.

Representing the developer at Wednesday’s closing hearing, Paul Tucker QC told Mrs Vyse Westgate Road was crying out for new investment and the Burger King project was the “best real-world solution,” claiming its failure risked leaving the site mothballed.

He added: “There is no queue of developers waiting to step forward if an appeal is dismissed.”

Mr Tucker accused the city council of being on the “hunt for unicorns” in hoping a different plan for the site could be developed, calling the controversial drive-thru the “linchpin” which makes the regeneration scheme financially viable.

Pleading the council’s case, barrister Esther Drabkin-Reiter argued it was both “perfectly possible” and in the public interest to redraw the plans and remove the fast food chain.

She called the current proposal an “unacceptable over-development” which would be harmful to existing residents of the West End and to future residents of the site itself.

Ms Drabkin-Reiter added queuing traffic would block parking spaces within the site and could spill out on to Dunholme Road and Westgate Road, while also warning future residents of the site’s flats would be forced to keep their windows closed because of noise levels.

Joe Thomas, barrister for the West End Residents’ Association, labelled the “standard Burger King box” an “eyesore’’ and an “incongruous and unpleasant addition” to Westgate Road.

He said: “Instead of capturing criminals this site will capture traffic and release carbon dioxide.”

However, Mr Tucker insisted the plans were “manifestly better than what currently exists and comprise good-quality design which will add to the local area”.

Mrs Vyse will now determine whether or not to overturn the council’s rejection of the plans.

There are two separate applications to consider - one covering the Burger King and another for the remainder of the development.