Planners give green light to Barclays bank to relocate its South Shields branch

South Tyneside Council’s planning department has approved applications to pave the way for Barclays Bank to move to 64-66 King Street, at the former Burton shop.

The bank revealed plans to move from its current location at 1-3 King Street last year and in a letter to customers, said the current branch location would close at midday on Friday, March 8, 2024.

The new branch is then set to open on Monday, March 18, 2024.

Barclays previously said that the new premises would feature the latest banking technology, as well as a modern feel with improved meeting rooms and better access for people with disabilities.

South Tyneside Council’s planning department received an application in October, 2023, for the proposed relocation.

This included the replacement of the shopfront, the installation of a cash machine, a CCTV camera, an alarm box and additional glazing.

In addition, plans included one air conditioning condensing unit on the roof and three new ‘ventilation louvre’ to the rear of the building.

After considering the plan and assessing it against planning policies, the application was approved on January 19, 2024.

Council planners noted that although the site is not a listed building, it is a locally listed heritage asset.

It was noted that the plans would bring a vacant unit back into use and would create a modern shop front, as well as provide a separate access to the building’s upper floors.

A council decision report said that this would “create future opportunities for these upper floors to be occupied, further enhancing the retail centre”.

The council decision report added: “The application site is included within the council’s list of locally significant heritage assets.

“Policy DM6 (c) seeks to ensure that development proposals will protect, preserve and where possible enhance the historic, cultural and architectural character and heritage, visual appearance and contextual importance of our heritage assets and their settings, which includes locally significant heritage assets.

“It is not considered that the proposed development would result in significant harm to the character of the building”.

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A separate application for advertising consent from Barclays was also approved by South Tyneside Council’s planning department on January 19, 2024.

This included illuminated signage and signage for an ‘express banking service’.

A spokesperson for Barclays previously said: “The new branch will provide our latest banking technology to make everyday banking quicker and easier and Barclays colleagues will still be available to help customers.

“It will have a fresh, modern feel with better disability access and improved meeting rooms.

“As banking changes and evolves, our premises need to adapt to accommodate our customer’s needs”.

For the 10 days that the South Shields branch is closed in March, the nearest branches for Barclays customers will be on Fawcett Street, in Sunderland city centre, or Northumberland Street, in Newcastle city centre.

For more information on the planning application and council decision, visit South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website and search reference: ST/0646/23/FUL.