Plans approved for new housing estate on site of empty buildings in Hebburn

This week, South Tyneside Council’s Planning Committee considered a hybrid planning application for land off Argyle Street in the town.

This included full planning permission to demolish several vacant industrial buildings to make way for 82 new homes.

Applicant ‘The Shlomo Memorial Fund Ltd’ also applied for outline planning permission for up to 18 homes on the site, with details such as design and layout reserved until a later date.

During consultation, the housing plan sparked 18 objection letters from 16 properties with concerns ranging from parking, noise and disturbance issues to “insufficient infrastructure” and loss of industrial land.

However at a meeting to decide the application on Monday, June 21, councillors voted in line with a planning officer’s recommendation to approve the housing scheme.

The approval is subject to conditions and a planning agreement between the council and developers to reduce the impact of the new housing on the area.

The section 106 agreement, which is a standard part of the planning process, will allow South Tyneside Council to secure £445,915 from the developer for education and providing extra school places in the area.

Planners also reassured committee members that the housing plans were acceptable and would not be “detrimental” to highway safety or neighbours.

Councillor Wilf Flynn said the application “seemed to tick all the boxes” and added that the proposed section 106 deal and funding for education was the “icing on the cake.”

Councillor Margaret Peacock also welcomed the section 106 funding contribution and said the application would bring a brownfield site back into use.

“To me, it looks like a win win situation,” she added.

The application site covers Ashworth Frazer Industrial Estate, Station Road, the car park to the rear of Marthas Vineyard, Bell Street, and the site of the former Hebburn Community Centre, which was demolished in 2016.

In response to questions from the Planning Committee, planning officers confirmed that safeguards would be put in place for new residents, given the existing business/ commercial uses in the area.

This included agreed separation distances and an ‘acoustic barrier’ to reduce noise.

For more information on the application, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal and search reference: ST/0412/20/FUL

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