South Tyneside College submits plans for marine workshops at new King Street campus

Plans have been submitted for new ‘marine workshops’ at a major college development in South Shields town centre.

The 15,000 sqm development will replace South Tyneside College’s existing site at Westoe and will also see world-leading South Shields Marine School incorporated.

It includes a main campus in King Street, a repurposed Grade II-listed building in Barrington Street for staff and learning-related uses and a 125-bed student accommodation hub for the Marine School at the One Harton Quay building.

The project is being funded by Tyne Coast College, the Department for Education, the North East Combined Authority, South Tyneside Council and the Government.

Student intake for the new campus is expected in September 2027, with admin facilities and student flats due for completion in August.

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New plans have now been submitted for specialist marine workshops for the college on the part of the site adjacent to Barrington Street, Cornwallis Street and Coronation Street.

The land is currently fenced off as part of construction firm Castle’s site compound but subject to approval, it could house a purpose-built workshop space.

Submitted floor plans show a single building subdivided into two workshops, along with toilets and a ‘hydraulics and controls’ area.

An accompanying heritage impact assessment notes the workshops will be part of the college offer but an “independent workshop building” related to the main campus building and 16 Barrington Street, which is being converted for college use.

It added that the proposal presents the opportunity to “reinstate the street scene and create an additional area of public realm that connects with the existing linkages along Barrington Street”.

The application argues that as a “separate simple workshop building the siting, scale and design will allow 16 Barrington Street to remain as the main focal building in the streetscape.”

A decision on the plan is expected following a consultation.

For more information, visit the council’s planning portal website and search for reference 260686.

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