Water's Edge development plans submitted after South Shields apartment block plans scrapped

A former pub on South Tyneside’s coastline could be transformed into new homes under plans submitted to borough development bosses.

South Tyneside Council’s planning department has received an application for the Water’s Edge pub site at Trow Lea.

The building, which sits adjacent to a council car park, has not operated as a pub for years and is understood to have living accommodation on the first floor.

Back in 2018, proposals to demolish the site and build an apartment block were rejected by the council’s Planning Committee after the plans sparked hundreds of public objections.

The refused plans later went to appeal, and following a formal hearing at South Shields Town Hall, a Government-appointed planning inspector dismissed the appeal.

Council leader at the time, Iain Malcolm, said he intended to explore whether compulsory purchase powers could be used to force the sale of the site.

According to supporting documents submitted to council officials this year, the pub site has not changed hands and long-term owners are now looking to redevelop the building, rather than demolish it.

It is understood that initial ‘pre-application’ proposals included holiday lets and a commercial unit but following feedback from council heritage officers, these features were removed.

Final plans included converting the pub building into several homes, as well as building a detached bungalow within a garden area.

A design and access statement submitted to council officials said similar plans had previously been approved by South Tyneside Council, but that planning permission had expired.

Those behind the scheme said the plans would improve the site and that there was “little change” to the former pub’s structure, other than “an extension within the existing footprint and small alterations to form new access”.

Parking would be provided at the rear of the existing buildings, in the same location as the existing car park, and the remainder of the site would see new landscaping.

The planning listing confirms four dwellings are proposed in total, including three within the former pub and the additional detached dwelling.

A heritage impact assessment submitted to council decision-makers stated the plans would not have a negative impact on the Grade II-listed Trow Rock Floating Platform nearby.

It was noted that the development would “improve the overall appearance of the setting by repairing the existing dilapidated buildings and removing features that currently detract from its overall appearance”.

The heritage impact assessment adds: “The new dwelling that is proposed is of a small scale, limited height and would replicate the design of the existing buildings, giving the development on site a coherent appearance without significantly altering its character and form.

“The proposed development would preserve the significance of the Trow Rock Floating Platform and views of the heritage asset from the surrounding area”.

A decision on the planning application will be made once a period of council consultation has concluded.

Comments can be made on the plans until December 7, 2023, via South Tyneside Council’s planning portal website.

For more information on the plan, visit the council’s planning portal and search reference:ST/0613/23/FUL