Plans submitted for major changes at South Shields Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Plans for improved facilities at a place of worship in South Shields have been submitted to council development bosses.
South Tyneside Council’s planning department has received an application for the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses site, off South Eldon Street, in the town’s Simonside and Rekendyke ward.
An application submitted to council officials is seeking permission for a “proposed extension, alteration of emergency site access and egress [and] minor modifications to car park, including increase of car parking and landscaping.”
The planning application form confirms that no work has started to date and notes the development would create an extra six parking spaces, raising the number of spaces from 29 to 35.
Submitted plans show the layout of the Kingdom Hall which includes a large auditorium area and platform, toilet facilities, a small kitchen, a “single classroom” and other spaces.
A “biodiversity net gain statement” submitted with the planning application describes the proposed development as a “small extension to the rear of the building” with “modifications to the car park, emergency site access and landscaping”.
It notes that a “number of considerations have been taken into account in the design to avoid loss of existing habitat” and while acknowledging “some loss is inevitable as part of the proposed development”, applicants said that “considerations have included the retention of three of the five trees on-site, as well as the majority of the existing boundary hedgerow”.
The supporting statement said that “construction will be undertaken in line with a construction environmental management plan to ensure areas of habitat retention are protected” and that “trees to be retained will be protected with Heras/Harris type fencing during construction, with appropriate signage to ensure all on site will be aware of the limitations imposed”.
In terms of landscape design, applicants said “the loss of one medium sized tree and one small tree will be addressed by the provision of 14 small trees, [with] seven along the boundary wall to the rear of the site, six along the boundary to the north and one near the existing site access on the north eastern side of the site”.
While it was noted that a “short 2.5m section of existing hedgerow will be removed for the replacement of the emergency site access”, applicants said “35.5m of hedgerow will be provided in two sections, one at the rear of the existing building and one along the northern boundary”, as well as works to “enhance” a proportion of “retained grassland area” including planting with ‘rich seed’ grass.
A decision on the planning application is expected following a council consultation exercise.
For more information on the plan, or to track its progress, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search reference: 260034