Plans for student flats are rejected by councillors

MAJOR plans for a student flats development in South Shields town centre have been rejected by councillors.

- CHRIS BINDING

South Tyneside Council's planning committee unanimously voted to refuse an application for a large building on Ocean Road, at the corner with Anderson Street, during a meeting this week.

The site includes 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.

Plans submitted in January proposed retaining the ground floor shop unit and redeveloping the rest of the building, including extending it upwards, to create dozens of new residential flats.

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

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.