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South Shields town centre development agreements signed

Plans for South Shields town centre have taken a major step forward with the announcement that Muse Developments has finalised a development agreement with South Tyneside Council for the South Shields 365 project.

The announcement comes just three months after Muse was selected as preferred developer for the £100m scheme, which will make South Shields an exciting destination 365 days a year.

The South Shields 365 plan proposes a radical town centre redevelopment with a new retail quarter, cinema, library, and leisure facilities as well as a quality hotel and new housing.

The scheme will also improve the town’s market place and the nearby St Hilda’s area, while the Council is also working with Nexus (the passenger transport executive for Tyne and Wear) to develop a new integrated bus and Metro interchange which will provide a high quality point of arrival into the heart of the town centre.

David Wells, development director for Muse Developments, said: “We are delighted to have signed the development agreement for South Shields 365. It marks an important milestone for the scheme and the town, realising the vision for South Shields and creating new opportunities within the borough. We will now work closely with the Council towards submitting the first planning application in spring 2014.”

Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “South Shields has huge potential, and this is another key step towards making our ambitions a reality. Muse have a strong track record in town centre regeneration and can help us to establish South Shields as the North East’s premier coastal resort.

“The scheme will bring together the town’s three key assets – the town centre, Riverside and our beautiful seafront – to make South Shields a place of year-round cultural, leisure and retail activity. Despite funding reductions and a difficult financial climate, regeneration is already making real progress with the Haven Point pool and leisure complex and a stunning new waterfront park completed in the past few weeks, and further developments underway.”

The first phase of development will be the development of a new community hub and library in the market place, where the 1960s eyesore Wouldhave House was demolished earlier this year.

Work will begin in summer 2014 following the recent announcement that the scheme has secured £12 million of Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) money to develop the first phase.

Muse was selected as the Council’s preferred development partner for the scheme in July 2013. The first planning application is expected in the New Year, with work on site likely to commence in mid-2014.

For further details of the South Shields 365 masterplan, or to download a copy, visit www.southshields365.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by South Tyneside Council .