Latest news with #SouthTynesideCouncil
BBC News
2 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
South Shields' former BT office to become student flats
A striking office block on the south bank of the River Tyne will be turned into student flats, a council has to turn the former BT business centre at One Harton Quay in South Shields into a 125-bed student residence were approved by South Tyneside Council, with work on the four-storey, glass-fronted building expected to begin in is aimed to support the relocation of South Tyneside College and South Shields Marine School into the town centre from its current Westoe exterior of the block, which was originally designed to resemble the bow of a ship, will remain largely unchanged and it is hoped it will be ready for students by September 2027. Inside there will be en-suite bedrooms arranged in clusters, individual studio apartments and communal areas including lounges, kitchens, study spaces and a reception with security. The council has also entered a development agreement with Tyne Coast College which has sites in South Shields and Wallsend.A £95m college relocation project, funded by Tyne Coast College, the North East Combined Authority and the Department for Education (DfE), has already seen construction take place on a new town centre site of the now-demolished Central Library, which had previously been identified as the preferred location for student accommodation, will remain in council ownership as a development opportunity, the council said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Hidden park just 30 minutes from major city is 'like going back in time'
This beautiful park just a short drive from a major UK city is a true hidden gem and has been a staple in many people's childhoods over the years Ask any North East native or resident with children to recommend a must-visit park - and one name will repeatedly come up: South Marine Park in South Shields. Nestled in a scenic spot by the seaside and just a stone's throw from the beautiful Sandhaven beach, South Marine Park is a location that many of us fondly recall from our childhood. It still evokes a sense of nostalgia for those strolling through it years later. The North East boasts an array of stunning parks, many of which were awarded a Green Flag just last month. However, residents say there's something uniquely special about South Marine. With the school summer holidays in full swing, and the small matter of tens of thousands flocking to the neighbouring Bents Park every Sunday for the South Tyneside Festival concerts, South Marine Park has seen a surge in visitors this year. It's a hit with all ages, attracting families for a day out, as well as couples and adults seeking relaxation, unwinding, or a nostalgic trip down memory lane. With its own steam train offering park tours, a lake for leisurely swan-shaped pedalo rides, and a charming bandstand, South Marine boasts features that many of its North East rivals can't. It also has the added perk of housing a branch of the legendary South Shields cafe, Toney Minchella, reports Chronicle Live. The South Tyneside Council website's description of South Marine Park hits the nail on the head; it "holds a special place in the heart" of both locals and tourists. Surrounded by woodland, it offers a genuine retreat from the outside world, if only for a few hours. And, if you fancy injecting some excitement after all the relaxation, Ocean Beach theme park is just across the road. Trip Advisor reviews for South Marine Park speak volumes about its high regard, with one five-star reviewer declaring: "South marine park is by far the best." Echoing this sentiment, another wrote: "Worth a visit whatever your age".
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
South Shields padel site to replace existing tennis courts
New padel tennis courts will be created at a sports club in what developers hope will help to "reduce childhood obesity", according to approved Tyneside Council has given the go ahead for "five illuminated padel courts" to replace half of the South Shields Tennis Club, also known as Westoe Lawn Tennis Club, off Dean Road in South Project UK Ltd will install the hard courts on the north of site, with the remainder continuing its current use for caravan planning conditions, the development must be brought forward within three years. Padel is a type of tennis played with specialist balls and rackets in a small enclosed court, where walls are part of the court and can be used in new site will include space for the "rapidly growing sport" and feature playing cages, a reception and storage area and changing facilities, plans seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service planners said the proposal would "support healthy lifestyles", with supporters saying the development is an "excellent idea for South Shields" and would "encourage youngsters to get into the sport". One objection raised concerns about potential light pollution from floodlights impacting properties in nearby Hartington the council concluded the development would have "no harm upon the character of the wider conservation area given the site specific circumstances" and that lights would be "constructed in a similar location to previous floodlights located at the tennis courts".Padel Project UK Ltd said the site will be for children and adults and they plan to work with the local council and rugby club to target specific groups in need of access to sports. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
'Complex' sinkhole repairs continue months on
A section of a street which was damaged when a sinkhole appeared remains cordoned off nearly four months later amid "complex" repairs. Part of Broughton Road in South Shields collapsed in late January, damaging several vehicles and leaving residents shocked. Councillor Ernest Gibson, lead member for neighbourhoods and climate change at South Tyneside Council, said repair work was "very complex" and required "full and thorough" analysis of underground conditions. He added the local authority was committed to reopening the road as soon as possible, although no dates have been confirmed yet. "Contractors and machinery remain on site at this time," Gibson said. The sinkhole was noticed at about 05:30 GMT on 27 January when car alarms in the affected street went off. No-one was reported to be injured. South Tyneside Council leader, Labour's Tracey Dixon, previously said she had "no idea" what caused the road to collapse. Gibson thanked residents for their patience and understanding as the council continued work towards a permanent repair. "Restoring the road and footpath involves deep excavations and assessments, before rebuilding the layers and backfilling the hole," he added. "It is being planned and designed to take into account workers' safety, the structural integrity of surrounding buildings and foundations and the impact on the underground sewer and utilities." Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Cars swallowed by sinkhole leaves street shocked South Tyneside Council
Scottish Sun
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Britain's first ever American-style shopping centre to be DEMOLISHED in huge overhaul this summer
Part of UK retail site to be flattened after council approval SHOP HAPPY Britain's first ever American-style shopping centre to be DEMOLISHED in huge overhaul this summer THE UK's first American-style shopping centre is set to be bulldozed this summer after the council gave the go-ahead for a major revamp. The Viking Centre, located in Jarrow town centre, will undergo partial demolition following approval from South Tyneside Council's planning department. 3 The overhaul is aimed at opening up space for future redevelopment Credit: Viking Centre 3 No objections were received during the public consultation period. Credit: Getty The plans focus on tearing down "a number of units that are largely vacant, including the former Wilko building on the corner of Bede Precinct and Ellison Street". Several of the neighbouring units have been standing empty, with some last used by charity shops. The overhaul is aimed at opening up space for future redevelopment. According to the approved application, the Jarrow Buffs Social Club at 96 Ellison Street is not included in the demolition area and will remain untouched. The application was submitted earlier this year by Sheet Anchor Investments Limited, the owners of the site, and was approved on April 29, 2025. No objections were received during the public consultation period. Planning officers noted that the method of demolition was appropriate for the site and that the restoration plans would leave the area in a 'tidy condition'. Demolition work is due to start in July and finish by 1 December 2025, reports Chronicle Live. That means the site could be cleared in time for the busy Christmas season. The buildings will be knocked down using a top-down method, with the roof removed first, followed by perimeter walls. Major high street retailer with 17 Scots stores to close 'a THIRD' of UK shops They will be demolished down to 'slab level'. Extra safety and environmental measures will be in place, including fencing, dust suppression systems, and a wheel wash system for all site vehicles. Council officials confirmed the site is not listed, not part of a conservation area, and holds no local or national protected status. Checks with the council's countryside team found minimal risk to protected species like bats or nesting birds. However, two informative notes were included as a precaution. Under planning rules, demolition must begin within five years – but documents confirm that work on the Viking Centre is firmly scheduled to begin this summer. The Sun has approached South Tyneside Council for comment. Why are retailers closing shops? EMPTY shops have become an eyesore on many British high streets and are often symbolic of a town centre's decline The Sun's business editor Ashley Armstrong explains why so many retailers are shutting their doors. In many cases, retailers are shutting stores because they are no longer the money-makers they once were because of the rise of online shopping. Falling store sales and rising staff costs have made it even more expensive for shops to stay open. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April 2025, will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. In some cases, retailers are shutting a store and reopening a new shop at the other end of a high street to reflect how a town has changed. The problem is that when a big shop closes, footfall falls across the local high street, which puts more shops at risk of closing. Retail parks are increasingly popular with shoppers, who want to be able to get easy, free parking at a time when local councils have hiked parking charges in towns. Many retailers including Next and Marks & Spencer have been shutting stores on the high street and taking bigger stores in better-performing retail parks instead. In some cases, stores have been shut when a retailer goes bust, as in the case of Carpetright, Debenhams, Dorothy Perkins, Paperchase, Ted Baker, The Body Shop, Topshop and Wilko to name a few. What's increasingly common is when a chain goes bust a rival retailer or private equity firm snaps up the intellectual property rights so they can own the brand and sell it online. They may go on to open a handful of stores if there is customer demand, but there are rarely ever as many stores or in the same places. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year
