446-home shipbuilding-inspired River Tyne development gets planning green light

Plans for a 446-home development inspired by the shipbuilding history on the River Tyne have been approved by South Tyneside Council.

Last week the council's planning committee gave the proposed Hebburn development the green light for residential, community and commercial space at the former Hawthorne Leslie Shipyard on Ellison Street.

According to planners, the development will "represent a significant regeneration project, transforming the 3.7ha former dockyard into a vibrant new community with homes, flexible community spaces, shops and restaurant".

The development will also host a permanent exhibition depicting the rich maritime history of the site, as well as its design being heavily influenced by the site’s shipbuilding heritage.

In acknowledgement to the site’s important wartime history, it is proposed that the development is named ‘Kelly’s Yard’ in honour of the World War II K-class destroyer, HMS Kelly, which was built and launched at the site in 1938. HMS Kelly was named after the Admiral of the Fleet, Sir John Kelly.

Phillip Allin, Director of planning consultancy Boyer said: "We are delighted to have achieved this positive outcome which will lead to the transformation of this brownfield site bringing a vacant and inaccessible section of the riverside back into active use, creating a vibrant and sustainable community though an appropriate mix of much-needed homes and community uses.

"The new scheme will result in the remediation of this former industrial site, making it safe for future generations. It will ensure the protection of local mudflats and saltmarshes which are of importance ecologically, and reduce the pressure on the Green Belt – a significant consideration in the emerging Local Plan."

Mark Russell and Barry Holmes of LDA Design conceived and masterplanned the vision for the redevelopment, supported by consultants Design Division, Tetra Tech, Wardell Armstrong, Andy Clay Consulting, UES ecology, GIA, Ollio, Purcell, Turner Townsend, Avison Young and RPS.