Plans for town centre student accommodation turned down

Major plans for a residential flats development in South Shields town centre aimed at students have been blocked by councillors.

- by Chris Binding Local Democracy Reporter @shieldsgazette

A CGI of the proposed development from applicant Regal Property Stroud Ltd.

South Tyneside Council's Planning Committee, voted unanimously to refuse an application for a large building in Ocean Road, which sits on the corner with Anderson Street.

The site comprises the existing ground floor Workwear and Schoolwear Company unit, the former Roxanne's nightclub in the basement and a bar/nightclub space across the upper floors, planning documents state.

Plans for the site submitted back in January aimed to retain the ground floor shop unit and redevelop the rest of the building, including extending it upwards, to create dozens of new residential flats.

This included plans for 30 self-contained studio flats and two six-bed houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) or 'cluster apartments', with the project described in submitted plans as "student accommodation".

The proposed development from applicant Regal Property Stroud Ltd included the "construction of a new mansard roof to create a third floor", along with demolishing the existing "glazed stair" and constructing a new stair/lift entrance.

A design and access statement submitted with the plans described the development as "residential co-living" with 42 flats in total, including a large number of one-bedroom studios and two "cluster co-living apartments".

Communal kitchens across upper floors were also proposed, along with the basement including a student social / study space, a gym, a cinema room, toilets, storage areas and cycle storage, according to proposed floor plans.