£25m flats plan for banks of the Tyne
NEW £25m plans have emerged to build more than 200 flats overlooking the River Tyne.
Developers are hoping to transform the old CEMEX cement works next to the King Edward VII railway bridge with a “landmark” 10-storey apartment block.
The former concrete plant in Pottery Lane has been vacant for around three years, while previous plans to build housing on the disused land collapsed in 2019.
But new proposals lodged with Newcastle City Council could see a new L-shaped complex containing 214 flats and a rooftop terrace.
The project has been described as a “high-quality, landmark new development” which would offer “a significant boost to the local economy and a carefully-designed building in the gateway to Newcastle”.
The scheme would cost between £25m and £27m and could support 500 construction and supply chain jobs.
A planning application submitted by planning agents Lichfields, on behalf of developer HRE (Pottery Lane) Limited, states: “The development has been carefully designed to create a modern, high quality building on this gateway site into the City. The proposed development consists of a mix of modern one, two and three-bedroom apartments and associated communal space.
“The homes have been designed to a high standard in order to meet the demand for high-quality homes in the heart of the city centre.”
It adds: “The proposed development will regenerate a vacant brownfield site within the Urban Core, in an area identified as a sustainable location for development.
“The proposed mix of apartments is appropriate for the city centre location and will offer a choice of new housing - encouraging local investment through reinforcing the city centre as a desirable and affordable place to live, work and play.
“The proposals will further offer a significant enhancement to the surrounding area through the introduction of a suitable use to meet local needs.”
The proposed apartment block would contain 137 one-bed flats, 72 two-bedroom units, and five with three bedrooms.
In 2018, Newcastle City Council’s planning committee gave its approval in principle for the Cemex site, next to the Forth Banks area, to be redeveloped for housing, before Provincial Town Properties withdrew its application the following year.
The land was previously home to Swinburne’s Glass Works and was taken over by Cemex in the early 1970s.