Fresh plans have emerged to transform a derelict Newcastle police station where developers had previously hoped to build a Burger King.
The long-running saga over the former Westgate Road station in the West End has yet another twist, with new designs now emerging in an attempt to finally redevelop the site. Controversial proposals to demolish part of the vacant building to make way for a drive-thru Burger King were rejected by Newcastle City Council in 2020 and that verdict was subsequently upheld by a government planning inspector after an inquiry.
Those original plans from Hadrian Property Investments would have seen the remainder of the station converted into 15 flats, two shops, and a dental surgery. Having so far failed in attempts to revive the Burger King idea, the developer has now come back with new plans – and has pledged that the fast food chain will not be involved, with the initial plans having sparked a backlash from locals fearing an increase in obesity problems in one of the most deprived parts of Newcastle.
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A new planning application lodged with the council still includes a drive-thru restaurant or cafe to be located where the western wing of the former police station currently stands. But the Local Democracy Reporting Service understands that big hot food takeaway brands like Burger King or McDonalds have been ruled out as potential tenants.
The four-storey tower section of the station would still be converted into 15 apartments on its upper levels, with three shops on the ground floor and no dentist. Hadrian Property Investments had been granted a High Court hearing to challenge part of planning inspector Jennifer Vyse’s decision on the original plans – only the section relating to the tower, not the drive-thru.
While the High Court hearing is still scheduled for January, the developer has been in talks with the city council and neighbours in the West End to come up with an alternative scheme. The planning application, prepared by Hedley Planning Services, states that “careful consideration” was given to the inspector’s decision and that the latest plans would represent “a high-quality redevelopment which provides significant economic benefits”.
It adds: “There would be a requirement regarding restricting the end user of the restaurant/ drive thru as was detailed in the inquiry. The proposal does not currently have an end user; however, it is certain that this will not be a McDonalds. The Applicant is willing to accept a condition relating to this.”
The new plans also promise to have obscure glazing on the kitchens and bathrooms of the proposed flats in order to address concerns about damaging the privacy of neighbours.
In a verdict issued in January, planning inspector Jennifer Vyse criticised the design of the “two storey box” that would have been the Burger King. She was also critical of the loss of privacy for residents in neighbouring Lynnwood Avenue that would result from turning the upper floors of the police station into apartments.
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