100's of flats could be coming to Newcastle City Centre.
More than 250 apartments could be built above a department store in the heart of Newcastle.
New plans have been unveiled to turn derelict sections of the city centre’s TJ Hughes into housing.
The vision would see a three-storey extension built above and to the rear of the historic site, a grade II* listed building in Grainger Street, and its vacant upper floors converted into flats.
Proposals from developer TS R1 Ltd have been lodged with Newcastle City Council to create 254 serviced apartments, while keeping the ground floor of the building as a shop.
Only a section of the four-storey, Georgian building is currently occupied by TJ Hughes, with the part of the store accessed off the Bigg Market and the former cafe overlooking the square having been empty for some time.
There have been a number of plans previously to turn parts of the ground floor of the shop into a bar and restaurant, but that has never come to fruition.
The new planning application submitted to the city council states: “The upper floors of the site have been vacant for a significant period, and if left unused will start to deteriorate and degrade to the harm of the future of this asset.
“This scheme not only secures and promotes suitable town centre uses within the existing building, but will also allow investment into the property, and uses which will breathe new life into the building, to not only allow the financial investment needed to bring the building up to modern standards, but also to allow the property to be retained and enjoyed by future generations.
“The positive impact the scheme will have on this heritage asset, including the positive benefit from a building in use within the Conservation Area cannot be underplayed and weighs heavily in favour of this application.”
The renovations would comprise a mix of 254 studio and one-bedroom apartments, which the developer says would be used by tourists, as well as a gym and “wellness retreat”.
In a statement sent to the council, Liverpool-based planning agents Baltic PDC insist that the extension proposed to the Grainger Town building would “not result in harm to neighbouring amenities, nor the visual amenities of the street scene”.
They add: “The development subject of this application will secure the retention of an active retail use at basement and ground floor levels, protecting the primary use of the city centre location.
“The scheme will also secure the provision of a town centre use in a highly sustainable location and will support the long-term vitality and viability of the city centre. The scheme does propose extensions and alterations to a designated heritage asset; however, the scheme has been carefully considered to protect this designated heritage from substantial harm, and to protect and promote the character and appearance of the Conservation Area.”
A decision on whether or not the scheme can go ahead is expected to be made by the city council’s planning committee, at an unconfirmed future date.