North Shields: Major update on plans to demolish Queen Alexandra College and build a new housing estate
Plans to demolish part of a former college in North Shields to make way for new housing have been approved.
North Tyneside Council’s planning committee backed plans on Wednesday evening for a redevelopment of the closed Queen Alexandra Sixth Form College.
The college, which closed in 2024 after being deemed “no longer financially viable”, will be partly torn down and replaced with a 47-home estate.
Councillors unanimously approved Lovell Homes’ proposals, which will see the more modern section of the Queen Alexandra College site demolished.
The original, grade II listed building on the site, in Hawkeys Lane, is not included in the demolition plan.
That red brick building is the subject of a separate application to convert it into 34 apartments, which the council is yet to rule on.
Conservative councillor David Lilly, who represents the Preston with Preston Grange ward, told Wednesday’s committee hearing that what was once a busy college had been left to deteriorate.
He said residents had concerns about the site’s “wasted potential” and were “asking for this land to be put to good use, rather than being left to decay further”.
Coun Lilly added that the proposed development was a “chance to put that right” and build some much-needed new homes.
Alex Franklin, of agents Hedley Planning Services, argued that the plans would deliver “high quality homes in a sustainable location on previously developed land” and an estimated £1.3 million additional spent in the local economy every year.
Council planners concluded that the 20th century buildings which it is proposed to demolish “are of no historical or architectural significance” and that the 47 homes would “make a small, but valuable contribution in terms of providing much needed housing”.
Their report added: “The proposal would secure the development of a currently vacant site, enhancing the streetscene, the character of the area and the setting of the listed building.
“The proposal would avoid having an adverse impact upon neighbours andwould provide an acceptable living environment for future occupiers. It would also avoid an adverse impact on highway safety
“The proposal would provide a biodiversity net gain through on-site and off-site habitat creation. However, it would result in the removal of trees and someharm to the wildlife corridor through the loss of habitat. The habitat affected is not distinctive and there would be no adverse impact on protected species. It is officer opinion that the harm caused would not be significant.”
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