Jarrow funeral home could get new lease of life as two houses and 'older persons' bungalow

A former funeral home in Jarrow is set for a major transformation to make way for new residential properties.

The application to South Tyneside Council’s planning department is for the former funeral home at 6 St John’s Terrace in the town centre.

New plans aim to convert the building into two, two-bedroom houses and one single-bedroom bungalow, described as an “older persons apartment”.

The residential scheme, if approved, would involve works to “internally reconfigure the existing structure”, along with “limited external alterations”.

An accompanying heritage statement notes the site sits adjacent to the heritage building St Bede’s Church and has the potential to affect its setting.

However, applicants noted the residential scheme represents a “reuse of an existing building, rather than demolition or large-scale redevelopment”.

It was argued that the conversion “will not introduce visually intrusive elements” and that “the relationship between the site and the church remains unchanged”, along with the removal of a commercial use potentially “reducing activity intensity”.

Public benefits listed by the applicant included the provision of three residential units contributing to local housing supply, the “enhancement of the building’s long-term viability” and a “reduction in vacancy or underuse”.

The heritage statement goes on: “The proposed conversion of 6 St John’s Terrace preserves the significance of St Bede’s Church, maintains its setting without introducing harmful visual or spatial changes, delivers sustainable development through adaptive reuse and provides clear public benefits.

“Overall, the proposal complies with the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) and local planning policy and should be supported.”

A decision on the plan is expected following a consultation.

For more information, visit the council’s planning portal website and search for reference 260182.