Developer submits plans for £6m Blyth Beach gateway project

Developers of land at a popular North East seaside spot submitted plans today (Dec 4th) for an ambitious £6m regeneration of the site.

Blagdon Estate, which owns just under three-and-a-half acres of land around Link House at Blyth’s South Beach off Links Road, is proposing a two-phase retail and leisure development on the split site.

A planning application has been submitted to Northumberland County Council for the development, which sits directly to the west of the current Coastline fish and chip restaurant and Ciccarelli’s Ice Cream parlour.

Blyth residents and other interested parties attended a public consultation event held in the town recently by Blagdon Estate. The group’s team of developers say they have listened intently to feedback from the community while drawing up their plans.

Company spokesperson Stuart Hall said in a statement: “We were overwhelmed with the turnout and the positive sentiment at the public consultation event we hosted in October. We took on board a vast number of constructive recommendations and the resulting plans show that we are keen to create something the whole town can be proud of.

“We feel strongly that these plans will build positively on what is becoming a hugely beneficial site for the long-term expansion of Blyth and its position as an attractive and progressive town to live in, work in and visit.”

Hall said the consultation meeting gave the developer a chance to discuss concerns around long-running access issues in that area, and that it will be holding discussions with the council and other key stakeholders to help develop long-term solutions.

Within the plans for the first phase, Blagdon Estate outlined proposals for six retail units and a first-floor area suitable for gym, studio or restaurant use. There will also be 60 new parking spaces, including disabled and family-friendly spaces.

The company says it has already received keen interest from local, independent retailers and well-known national retail and leisure operators.

If approved, work on the site is likely to start in late spring 2019, with an expected completion date of the following summer. It is estimated that up to 150 new full and part time roles will be created by the occupants of the new units across the two phases.