New 'youth hut' approved for Hebburn community centre

A community organisation in Hebburn is set to benefit from a new base for youth activities following a ruling by council planners.
File picture of the existing siteFile picture of the existing site
File picture of the existing site

In March, proposals were lodged for a single storey ‘modular building’ at Clegwell and Hartleyburn Community Hub off Mountbatten Avenue.

The centre already provides a range of social, welfare, educational, training and health activities for the local community.

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New plans, from the trustees of the community interest organisation, included a new 18 x 9.6 metre ‘youth hut’.

According to planning documents, the plans would provide a larger space for existing youth activities at the community centre.

During consultation, a single objection was received from a Toner Avenue resident over antisocial behaviour concerns in the wider area.

The neighbour also noted the number of elderly people living near the site and the facility being built “smack bang in the middle of a housing estate.”

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However, Northumbria Police were supportive of the youth centre plans and raised no objections.

A statement from the force’s Architectural Liaison Officer reads: “Although the site has suffered a degree of youth disorder over the years it is refreshing to see that the response by the community hub is to take positive action and make provision for young people.

“It is something we should support.”

South Tyneside Council’s planning department approved the youth hut plan on Wednesday, May 27 and responded to the objector’s concerns.

A council decision report reads: “The new building would be ancillary to the existing community centre at the site

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“Wider antisocial issues within the skate park and surrounding area would be a separate matter to the planning process; and would be dealt with by either the council’s Community Safety Team or Northumbria Police.

“Community centre staff would be responsible for managing users of the site itself.”

Council planners added the size and design of the building was acceptable, with no “unacceptable impacts” expected on nearby homes in terms of loss of privacy, noise or disturbance.

Under planning conditions, the youth hut works must be brought forward within the next three years.