Apartment plan on site of former cinema is rejected
PLANS to construct an apartment complex on the site of Gateshead’s former Odeon cinema have been thrown out.
The cinema on Gateshead High Street was originally closed in 1975 due to a lack of businesses and was eventually demolished in 2003.
Proposals to build 109 new homes, comprising of 34 one-bedroom flats, 53 two-bedroom flats, and 22 three-bedroom flats, complete with a communal lounge, car park and gym, had been lodged with Gateshead Council. However,
council officers have concluded there was inadequate affordable housing within the plan, without justification. There was also “insufficient information” to demonstrate acceptable living conditions for existing and future residents.
Officers also noted there was out-of-date information in the application, made by Josh Mani, regarding the proposal’s impact on highway safety, parking, and air quality. Flooding assessments were also dubbed “insufficient” in the report delivered to councillors.
Councillors were informed that the applicant did not seek preapplication advice which was strongly recommended by council officers and only provided enough documentation to validate the application but not enough to provide enough supporting information for a project of this scale.
One letter of objection was also acknowledged by Gateshead Council which questioned whether the development would fit “within the aspirations of a town centre location”.
The letter also said developments in the area should be considered as part of wider regeneration schemes and should not be done piecemeal.
The proposal was unanimously rejected by the council’s planning committee on Wednesday.