‘Overdevelopment’ fears raised as Jesmond pub demolition eyed for new houses

A closed Newcastle pub could be bulldozed to make way for a new housing development.

Plans have been unveiled to demolish the former Dun Cow in Jesmond, which has been shut for more than two years, and build 12 townhouses in its place.

The vacant venue, which was known as The Brandling before it was taken over and rebranded in 2017, has remained empty since closing its doors when the first Covid lockdown came into force in March 2020.

Developers North East Estates are now bidding to tear the building down and have lodged an application with Newcastle City Council that, if approved, could see a dozen terraced houses built on the site of the pub and its car park.

The plans have already drawn the ire of neighbours, however, with critics warning that the area is already “absolutely overwhelmed with cars” and fearing that a new housing development could worsen congestion and parking problems.

In objections listed on the city council’s website, the building plans have been labelled “overdevelopment” as people warn it would be “impossible to accommodate any increase in parking and traffic”.

One neighbour wrote: “The area is already incredibly congested with cars and parking is often not possible, even for those of us with resident’s permits. The back lanes are used as rat runs not only by parents dropping off children at school but also delivery drivers and those trying to avoid the congestion on Clayton Road.”

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In its planning application, the developer says that the housing proposal would bring “a range of economic, social and environmental benefits” to what is currently a disused pub, arguing that the site was occupied by terraced houses that were demolished in the 1930s.

The application states: “The proposal has been developed with the Conservation Area, neighbouring residents and their amenity in mind. The development has been crafted into its form with care and consideration and responds well to its context. Its contemporary style references the architectural forms and materials of its surrounding.

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“It is appropriate for the site in terms of scale and mass and is to be built to a very high standard. The applicant seeks to build these high quality family homes within a thriving suburb of Newcastle and the council is encouraged to accept this proposal as a positive contribution to the local area.”

Members of the city council’s planning committee are expected to be asked to decide whether the pub’s demolition can go ahead.