Plans for bar and restaurant hub in former warehouse on North Shields Fish Quay

An empty North Shields warehouse building could be transformed into restaurants if fresh plans are given the go ahead.
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Shaban Suleman is behind proposals to convert the ground and first floors of the Bilton Buildings, on Bell Street, into five food and drink outlets.

In an email to Mr Suleman’s agent North Tyneside Council’s regeneration and economic development department said it supported the proposals for the Fish Quay site.

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It said: “We welcome the re-use of this vacant building subject to detrimental impact to the residential amenity of adjacent dwellings.

How the warehouse redevelopment could lookHow the warehouse redevelopment could look
How the warehouse redevelopment could look

“Reuse and investment will bring improvements to the character and appearance of the conservation area if sympathetically approached.”

However, some residents were less impressed with eight objections submitted to the authority.

They were concerned about noise, bad smells and the amount of similar businesses already in the area.

They wrote: “Smells and noise from these premises will enter the above properties, when they open their windows to air their rooms, the bank, footpaths, and front gardens are much closer than the bars,restaurants closer to the river entrance.”

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Another claimed that the proposals aren’t in keeping with the authority’s plans for the area and called for there to be a ban on further applications from the hospitality industry.

They wrote: “If current applications are approved the future of the quay will be set, and the conservation area will fail in its ambitions I believe that this matter should be investigated by the council urgently, before dreadful mistakes happen.”

A resident of nearby flats said they support “the redevelopment of a run-down building” but are against food and drink units.

They added: “There are currently over 20 food/drink units along the Fish Quay, and this application would increase that number by almost 25%.

“In addition, five food/drink units would result in a significant increase in noise and disturbance in the area, with visitors passing along Liddell/Bell Street in both directions and going up the stairs to access transport links or more places to drink, and taxis arriving/leaving, both potentially until late at night.”

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The authority is expected to decide on the application in August.

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