Agenda item

21/02519/FUL, Tynemouth Library, 36 Front Street, Tynemouth

To determine a full planning application from North Tyneside Council for demolition of existing buildings.  Redevelop the site to provide a community facility with Library services, ICT, Tourist Information, flexible spaces for community use, financial Services and a Changing Places Bathroom.  Residential accommodation to provide 6no flats to be accessed from Middle Street via stairs and a lift, including parking.  Substation to be rebuilt to suit modern requirements.

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report from the planning officers in relation to a full planning application from North Tyneside Council for demolition of existing buildings.  Redevelop the site to provide a community facility with Library services, ICT, Tourist Information, flexible spaces for community use, financial Services and a Changing Places Bathroom.  Residential accommodation to provide 6no flats to be accessed from Middle Street via stairs and a lift, including parking.  Substation to be rebuilt to suit modern requirements.

 

A planning officer presented details of the application with the aid of various maps, plans and photographs.

 

In accordance with the Committee’s Speaking Rights Scheme Mrs P Stevens of Northumberland Terrace, Tynemouth had been granted permission to speak to the Committee. As Mrs Stevens was unable to attend the meeting she submitted a written statement which was considered by the Committee. Within the statement Mrs Stevens set out four grounds of objection relating to:

a)   a lack of proper publicity regarding the development,

b)     the Council’s failure to adequately maintain the existing building,

c)     the unexplored option of listing the building as a community asset; and

d)     the impact of the proposed demolition on the character and heritage of the area.

 

Sharon Mackay of North Tyneside Council addressed the Committee to respond to Mrs Stevens comments. Sharon explained how the Council had initiated an options appraisal of the building in 2018. As this had concluded that the refurbishment of the existing building was unviable, proposals for its demolition and redevelopment had been prepared in conjunction with Northern Powergrid, to replace the electricity sub-station, and Newcastle Building Society to co-locate a service within the library. Proposals had been subject to a public consultation exercise in 2021 and the plans had been revised taking into account the views of residents and Historic England who were satisfied that little of the original building remained. The proposed development would deliver a high quality building that would reflect the original design and provide significant community benefits in terms of library and community facilities, a changing places bathroom, commercial space and 6 new homes.

 

Members of the Committee asked questions of Sharon Mackay, her colleague Richard Brook, and officers and made comments. In doing so the Committee gave particular consideration to:

a)            whether there was any evidence of deliberate neglect of the existing building;

b)            the extent to which the Council had sought heritage funding grants to refurbish the existing library building;

c)            the location of the proposed railings to the front curtilage of the building;

d)            the area of floorspace on the ground floor allocated to community, library and commercial use and the area to be used as a one bedroom apartment;

e)            the location and outlook from the two ground floor apartment windows;

f)             comparisons with a similar development in Wooler, Northumberland;

g)            details of the proposed storage of commercial and residential refuse bins;

h)            the nature and extent of the public consultation exercise relating to the planning application;

i)             details of the proposed condition restricting the operation of the library and community hub to between 7am and 9pm Mondays to Saturdays and 9am to 6pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays;

j)             the possibility of incorporating the installation of solar panels to the design of the new building and salvaging the bricks of the demolished building for further use;

k)            whether the applicant could be required as a condition of planning permission to install electric vehicle charging points. The Committee agreed that should the application be granted permission should be subject to such a condition;

l)             details of the proposed condition requiring the applicant to submit for approval a construction method statement setting out details of matters such as vehicular access to the site and dust suppression; and

m)          the level of harm to the character of the Tynemouth Conservation Area balanced against the public benefits of the development.

 

The Chair proposed acceptance of the planning officer’s recommendation.

 

On being put to the vote, 8 members of the Committee voted for the recommendation, none against and one abstention.

 

Resolved that the application be permitted subject to the conditions set out in the planning officers report and a condition requiring the applicant to install electric vehicle charging points.

 

(Reasons for decision: The Committee concluded that, having regard to the relevant policies contained in the Council’s Local Plan 2017 and National Planning Policy Framework, the proposed development was acceptable in terms of the principle of development, its impact on the amenity of neighbouring and future residents, biodiversity and the highway network and the less than substantial harm which would be caused to the conservation area was outweighed by the public benefits of the development.)

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