Latest news with #GatesheadCouncil
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans to turn former police station into flats
A former police station that has stood empty for years could be turned into flats. The building on Sunderland Road in Felling, Gateshead, stopped being used as a police station in 1999. Planning documents showed it was later used as a youth probation centre and a school, but had been empty for more than five years. Max Leo Investments has applied to Gateshead Council to turn it into an apartment complex with 15 flats. Planning documents said the project would give "a diverse group of people" the chance to rent an affordable property in the area and bring the building back into use. A previous application was submitted and approved in 2018 to turn the former station into an aparthotel, reports the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Child safety fears over derelict police station 'Dystopian' former police homes to go on sale Gateshead Council
BBC News
26-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Dunston Staiths progress slow but steady, conservation chiefs say
A partnership aimed at protecting a historical timber structure on the River Tyne is making progress despite frustrations over securing long-term funding, chiefs Tyne & Wear Building Preservation Trust (TWBPT), which has responsibility for Grade II listed Dunston Staiths in Gateshead, teamed up with the National Trust (NT) in structure is more than 130 years old and was previously used to load coal on to ships during north-east England's industrial is hoped a soon-to-be submitted £4.5m bid for Heritage Lottery funding by Gateshead Council could help cover the cost of repairs to some sections. A public open day earlier this month had to be cancelled when damage was found to the decking, although a follow-up event went ahead after a "safe route" was identified for public access. 'Next pot of money' TWBPT's deputy manager, Kari Vickers, said several steps forward had been taken since the tie up with NT. including the structure's inclusion in the Tyne Derwent Way nine-mile (14km) trail connecting historic sites along the river.A community hub has also been opened nearby and a car park for visitors is currently being constructed."The major repairs we did to the west end of the staiths are now 10 years old," Ms Vickers said."We've done minor repairs since then, but we'd not had any subsequent big pots of money and so that's why we set up the partnership with the National Trust and Gateshead Council to help look at a strategy."Giving context to the staiths through the Tyne Derwent Way has massively changed things for the better, but then of course the funding that comes into that project is widely spread."You're delivering while thinking about that next pot of money that you're having to chase. That's probably one of the things that's frustrating, but we're not unique. A lot of organisations are in that position."We're all realistic about what we're tackling. We know this is a long-term thing. We know this is going to be decades rather than weeks." At more than 500m (1,650ft) in length, the staiths is reputedly the largest timber structure in has survived repeated arson attacks, but a large section was torn away by a blaze in 2003. A £3 visitors' fee was introduced last year to help pay for its maintenance, although people with an NE8 or NE11 postcode are given free suggestions for ways to generate income have included glamping pods and river repairs to the structure need to be funded and finished before any of those suggestions can be brought in, Ms Vickers says. 'Chomping at the bit' NT senior urban programme manager Helen Moir said the five years of the partnership have brought a new way of approaching "the stewardship" of the staiths and places like it."Previously heritage restoration projects were very much 'done to' places. Moving forward, it's about how to we work with the people who live and work next to it."We're at the beginning of the journey. We're all chomping at the bit to see more happen, but I do think we've learned together and developed together."Now it's about how do we take it further. Whether it's heritage or nature, we know we can't do it alone." For its part, Gateshead Council is confident the structure is in safe John McElroy said: "Dunston Staiths is a real symbol of Tyneside and of its links with the coal industry and even the National Garden Festival in 1990 [staged on adjacent land]."It also provides a real centrepiece for that part of the Tyne Derwent Way and hopefully the bid for £4.5m will see further progress."A lot has been done, but there's still more to do".Ms Vickers, meanwhile, remains determined: "We won't give up""Our core business is doing up old buildings, but when something is built for a specific purpose like the staiths, having a re-use that creates an income is difficult."Covid knocked us back, even with things like attracting volunteers."Last year we replaced 12 decking planks at the lower entrance. It cost £20,000."There's never enough money, but that's why you've got to be canny with what you do get." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Demolition of flyover earmarked for autumn
Work to start tearing down a flyover is set to start in the autumn, council bosses have said. The A167 Gateshead Highway was closed in December due to safety concerns and it has since been earmarked for demolition. The 1960s-built route, which previously carried about 40,000 vehicles a day, should see preliminary removal work begin in June. Gateshead Council leader Martin Gannon said "something radical" was needed "to make a real difference to Gateshead's future and the prosperity of its residents". The Labour-led authority formally agreed in March the flyover should go, allowing for a wider town centre regeneration, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. "The flyover is an eyesore and isn't a structure that we need any more in terms of transport," said Gannon. "We are taking the opportunity this closure has presented us with, to demolish the flyover, helping us make Gateshead and the town centre attractive for residents and businesses, as well as for visitors - and for investors." In March, Gannon said the flyover would be "gone within a year, for definite", while the council provisionally earmarked £18m for the works. It is also planning a campaign encouraging people to shop in the town centre. This is in response to high street traders having warned the disruption caused by the flyover closure risked killing off local businesses. The flyover's closure also sparked a festive travel crisis on Tyneside, with underground Metro services having to be suspended due to fears it could collapse. Repairs have since been carried out to encase two failing pillars in new concrete, thereby reinforcing the structure. Council chiefs have held ambitions of removing the flyover since 2008, replacing it with a tree-lined boulevard and new housing and job opportunities. But those plans have never before had the funding to proceed and there have been repeated warnings that such future development will be reliant on government support. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. High Street plan downsizes to speed up project Flyover checks were not weekly, council admits Closed flyover to be demolished 'by end of year' Gateshead Council
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gateshead flyover demolition will start in autumn, council says
Work to start tearing down a flyover is set to start in the autumn, council bosses have A167 Gateshead Highway was closed in December due to safety concerns and it has since been earmarked for 1960s-built route, which previously carried about 40,000 vehicles a day, should see preliminary removal work begin in Council leader Martin Gannon said "something radical" was needed "to make a real difference to Gateshead's future and the prosperity of its residents". The Labour-led authority formally agreed in March the flyover should go, allowing for a wider town centre regeneration, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."The flyover is an eyesore and isn't a structure that we need any more in terms of transport," said Gannon."We are taking the opportunity this closure has presented us with, to demolish the flyover, helping us make Gateshead and the town centre attractive for residents and businesses, as well as for visitors - and for investors."In March, Gannon said the flyover would be "gone within a year, for definite", while the council provisionally earmarked £18m for the works. It is also planning a campaign encouraging people to shop in the town centre. This is in response to high street traders having warned the disruption caused by the flyover closure risked killing off local businesses. The flyover's closure also sparked a festive travel crisis on Tyneside, with underground Metro services having to be suspended due to fears it could have since been carried out to encase two failing pillars in new concrete, thereby reinforcing the chiefs have held ambitions of removing the flyover since 2008, replacing it with a tree-lined boulevard and new housing and job those plans have never before had the funding to proceed and there have been repeated warnings that such future development will be reliant on government support. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Gateshead High Street plan to 'downsize' to help speed up project
A £13m regeneration of a high street is to be downsized to help speed up its progress, a council has to revitalise Gateshead High Street South began in 2019, but it became the subject of delays and controversy following the Covid-19 pandemic and budget of the buildings, which are due to be regenerated to bring people back to the town centre, have remained empty. The plans had included 700 new at Labour-led Gateshead Council are due to sign off a "revised" boundary after acquiring nine properties within the new site. The plan aims to bring people back to the town centre by building a mix of multiple new commercial venues, as well as new delays, it was subject to criticism by opposition councillors, who last year said the project was moving "at a snail's pace". Council leader Martin Gannon said: "It is about wanting to get on and do this, that's the issue. There have been comments in the past."But we have had to go through a long and laborious process of acquiring properties. "We have concluded a number of these discussions, we have acquired the majority." 'Getting started' After acquiring nine properties, the local authority said it was negotiating with seven other property owners, while 14 properties remain in place. The council added that compulsory purchase powers would be a last the project was paused in 2020, it was designated as a "delayed project" with a budget of £1.7m over three years. In February 2022, following a post-Covid review into the council's funds, a new project budget of £13m was approved to obtain property on High Street South. Council documents claimed the new shrunken scale of the project would provide "the best use of council capital funding", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service."To get progress and move at pace it is not massively reduced but it is concentrated on getting that redevelopment started," Gannon said."The rest of the site will be, I am sure, once the newly designated redevelopment site is completed and development plans and developers are approved and in place that the rest of the site will be viable."As for the previously included part of the regeneration scheme, documents said: "For present purposes they are no longer proposed to be acquired by the council whether by agreement or by the use of compulsory purchase powers." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
