Plans for a major residential development delivering 525 residential units in the Forth Goods Yard area of Newcastle city centre have been recommended for approval by the Council’s Planning Committee.

Developer, Olympian Homes plan to create two “U” shaped blocks positioned side by side with an open aspect to the south, to maximise views from the proposed apartments towards the River Tyne.

Block one, which will be sited on the western half of the site and will largely be 7-8 storeys high with a 12 storey tower element on the north-west corner, will accommodate 296 private rented (PRS) apartments.

Block two will sit on the eastern half of the site and be of 5-8 storeys high with a taller element on the north-west corner, providing a further 229 apartments for either private sale or more PRS units.

Each block will have a private landscaped central courtyard area as well as an onsite residents’ gym, meeting rooms, secure cycle parking and 52 car parking spaces. A new public footpath will connect Pottery Lane to the north of the site, to the Quayside to the south, creating permeability.

The 2.2 hectare site, which is located south-west of Newcastle city centre, has been earmarked for redevelopment in the local plan as part of a wider site, known as Forth Yards, with the ambition to deliver a vibrant mixture of uses with a linked green infrastructure network at its heart.

James Lindridge, Development Director at Olympian Homes, commented:

“Olympian Homes are thrilled to be delivering 525 high quality residential units with added amenities, providing significant investment in Newcastle City Centre. The scheme has been a culmination of hard work, working closely with Newcastle City Council to ensure that the regeneration of the site sits within the wider aspirations of Forth Yards Regeneration Plan.”

The approval is the culmination of two years’ work for planning consultants Lambert Smith Hampton (LSH), who first submitted a pre-application enquiry with Newcastle City Council on behalf of the developers in late 2018.

Laura Dixon, Senior Planner at LSH, added:

“The Pottery Lane west site has been redundant for a number of years so to achieve planning permission for a development that will completely transform this part of the city centre is a fantastic achievement.

“A great deal of care and attention has been given as to how the proposed development would sit within the overall site and surrounds, both in respect of its scale, massing and appearance, and we’re delighted that our hard work has finally paid off.”

CGI courtesy of Olympian Homes