Apartments plan given the green light for a listed building in South Shields

South Tyneside Council’s planning department has approved several applications for 31 Beach Road, near South Shields Town Hall.

Applicant Affordable Homes submitted plans last year for the vacant Grade II-listed building, which was once used as a solicitors’ office.

This included both change of use and listed building consent bids to convert the building from offices into five residential apartments.

According to council planning documents, planning permission was granted in 2017 to convert the building into six flats, however, this never happened and the planning permission has since lapsed.

After considering the new bid for apartments at the site and assessing it against planning policies, South Tyneside Council’s planning department gave the go-ahead on January 26, 2024.

The approved plans would see five flats across three floors, with a mix of four two-bed flats and a single one-bed flat.

A council decision report linked to the change of use said the conversion would “make a positive contribution to the local area by bringing this substantial vacant building into a viable use”.

Council planners added that the proposed use “would not affect the character and nature of the locality, which is characterised by a mixture of uses and activities”.

The council decision report said: “The property has been used for a number of years as office accommodation, however has now lain vacant for a number of years.

“It is considered that the conversion of the property to residential would not result in the loss of a prominent commercial unit and there are other vacant premises within the town centre and urban area where such commercial uses could be accommodated”.

It was noted that the plans had been amended several times following guidance from the council’s historic environment officer.

Council planners said the finalised plans “would have no significant harm upon the significance of the Grade II-listed building” or adjacent listed buildings.

Proposed external alterations include new roof windows and general repairs to the roof, walls, windows and lightwells.

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New gates would also be installed to the rear of the site, as well as lighting and a door intercom system being installed at the front door.

Internal alterations are understood to include “the removal of some existing partition walls, and the introduction of new partition walls to create the amended internal layout required to facilitate the new flats”.

As part of the development, an existing car park within the rear yard area is expected to be “re-configured” to provide seven spaces.

The council decision report adds: “The proposal would be to provide car parking and cycle provision for residents and visitors.

“This would comprise a car parking space for each resident, plus two visitor parking spaces”.

For more information on the apartment plan and council decision, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search reference: ST/0065/23/FUL.