Council sees further backlash against quayside development

A North East council has seen further backlash against a planned quayside development.

A councillor for the area and a “guardian of heritage” have joined a community-led opposition to the plans, which would see an apartment block built between St Ann’s Quays and High Quays at Newcastle Quayside.

Councillor for Ouseburn Ward, Gareth Kane, has offered his support to residents at St Ann’s Quay and High Quays who say the proposed development is out of scale with existing apartment blocks and will infringe rights to sunlight and daylight and cause overshadowing.

He commented: “I am very concerned with the proposed planning application.

“Principally, I object on the grounds that there has been a misleading and inadequate public consultation process.

“Indeed, there has only been one public consultation event, which was held some months back, which many residents have told me was poorly advertised.

“The developers afforded me a private meeting to discuss their plans, which, I felt at the time, were good. However, the planning application, as now being put forward, has been substantially revised.

“To elaborate on this, the south face of the proposed development has moved forward taking it out of line with St Ann’s Quay and other buildings along the Quayside, whereas the plans presented for consultation had it in alignment.

“None of the changes were requested by the consultees, therefore, the consultation was misleading and ultimately meaningless.

“As highlighted by the neighbouring developments, the orientation of the building leads to overshadowing, with what I believe is an unacceptable level of impact to a number of apartments in St Ann’s Quay.

“The planning application itself admits the overshadowing is not compliant with Building Research Establishment (BRE) guidelines.”

A council spokesperson said: “We have received a planning application for apartments on Newcastle Quayside.

“The application is currently out to public consultation which ends on June 13.

“It will be considered by planning committee and all representations will be taken into account before any decision is taken.”

John Matthews, chairman for Newcastle and Northumberland Society, said: “As a key guardian of our heritage, the Northumberland and Newcastle Society regularly reviews planning proposals affecting the city’s historic heart.

“We apply an ‘empathy architecture’ concept when considering planning applications and in that context we have carefully scrutinised the plans for Plot 12, Quayside, Newcastle and strongly believe this application, in its current form, should be refused.

“What is proposed seems like a desire to simply insert as large a structure as the plot can physically accommodate, it is a colossal, missed opportunity and if approved we believe it would blight this environment for generations.”

Ian McGlasson, director at High Quays, said: “Councillor Kane has echoed our deep concerns about the proposed property development.

“Newcastle Quayside is known globally and is an area of pride with a deep heritage.

“We should be celebrating an iconic development but this current proposal has fallen well short.”