Ouseburn street finally set for overhaul, years after row over parking shake-up

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Previously contentious plans to redevelop an Ouseburn “eyesore” and overhaul the area’s parking finally look set to go ahead, years after first being approved.

Newcastle City Council has, for the second time, backed a move to transform Bermondsey Street into a cultural events plaza and a private car park for the Biscuit Factory venue.

More than 60 neighbours objected to the plan before it last came to the local authority’s planning committee in summer 2018 – arguing that it amounted to ‘privatising’ a busy street and risked hurting the trade of businesses like the Ernest cafe by forcing customers to park further away.

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The project was agreed at the time, with council chiefs concluding that replacement parking spaces added elsewhere would more than make up for the loss of Bermondsey Street, but never went ahead due to “land ownership problems”.

Plans for a new public events plaza in Bermondsey Street, Ouseburn. Photo: Ethical Planning via Newcastle City Council. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.Plans for a new public events plaza in Bermondsey Street, Ouseburn. Photo: Ethical Planning via Newcastle City Council. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.
Plans for a new public events plaza in Bermondsey Street, Ouseburn. Photo: Ethical Planning via Newcastle City Council. Free to reuse for all LDR partners.

But councillors were told on Friday morning that those issues had now been resolved and the committee has again given its consent for Flameneal Ltd’s proposals to proceed.

It will see the entirety of Bermondsey Street and the former SWS storage yard redeveloped to create a private car park for the The Biscuit Factory and Biscuit Room, as well as a semi-public plaza that will host artistic displays, exhibitions and other events for up to 36 days per year.

No further objections were received in the latest consultation conducted by the council in March 2023.

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Since the plan was previously considered, the council has created a 15-space public car park on Stepney Road.

The council says that two extra parking spaces will also be added on Boyd Street and seven on Union Street to help make up for the loss of 17 on Bermondsey Street.

Planning committee member Coun Paula Maines told Friday morning’s hearing: “It is long overdue that we have finally got something that makes good use of the space because it is extremely untidy and is a bit of an eyesore. It would be lovely to have it used.

“Car parking is at a premium around that area and it will help stop some of the illegal parking in the area. I fully support it.”

The committee agreed unanimously that the scheme should finally go ahead, subject to a section 106 agreement being signed.

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