'Anything is an improvement': Future of eyesore site near McDonald's, Burger King and Tesco confirmed
Plans to regenerate an “eyesore” site in South Shields to facilitate a self-storage development have been backed by councillors.
South Tyneside Council’s Planning Committee, at a meeting this week, approved an application for a vacant site in the Bede Industrial Estate area of the borough.
The site, which sits on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Towers Place near McDonald’s and Burger King restaurants and a Tesco supermarket, was previously occupied by a now demolished warehouse.
Council planning documents note the fenced-off site includes a “concrete pad which has fallen into disrepair over recent years and, as such, the concrete has broken up in places.”
A planning application submitted to council officials sought permission for the “repair and infill of fence and gates”, as well as the “grading of site surface” and “tree planting and landscaping” to make way for a self-storage facility.
South Tyneside Council’s planning department, in a report published ahead of a decision-making Planning Committee this week, had recommended the plans for approval.
It was noted that “the metal palisade fence to the northern boundary would be retained” and that a “new metal palisade fence at a height of 2.4m would be erected to the southern and eastern boundaries”.
Plans included the “existing concrete pad being broken up into crushed hardcore and spread across the site in order to level the site” and proposed “landscaping to the south of the site alongside the southern boundary consisting of a strip of modified grassland with 32no. trees being planted within this area”.
Council planners, in the committee report, noted that the applicant “intends to site storage containers on the site for use as a self-serve storage facility”, although it was noted that “the siting of the containers themselves would not require planning permission as they are considered to be temporary structures”.
It was also noted that the self-storage use would be a “continuation of the site’s established B8 [planning class] use and, as such, planning permission would not be required”, with councillors voting on plans for site works.
The plans were put to the vote at a meeting of the Planning Committee on February 9, 2026, and won unanimous support from members of the decision-making panel.
Councillor Chris Davies described the application as a “good development” which delivered biodiversity net gain as well as providing trees.
Councillor Shirley Ford said she was pleased to see existing trees retained along the border and the development “bringing a vacant site back into use but with biodiversity net gain.”
Councillor Paul Brenen described the development as a “vast improvement to the industrial estate”, noting the application site had been “derelict for years”, and said the biodiversity net gains would be “great for the environment.”
Councillor Kate Owens-Palmer added the site had been an “eyesore for a long time” and that it “was about time it was dealt with”.
“For some reason there seems to be a requirement for storage units and those facilities are popping up everywhere and people seem to use them quite a lot so I think that’s a good addition to the area,” Cllr Owens-Palmer added.
Cllr Kennedy also said the site had been an “eyesore” for decades and welcomed the development, including the addition of 32 trees.
“It’s quite a vibrant area with the supermarket and a couple of small restaurants next to it and I think it will be nice to see something done with the land and anything is an improvement,” Cllr Kennedy added.
For more information on the planning application, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search reference: 250234