Revised city flats plan approved after appeal loss
Xsite ArchitecturePlans for a new apartment complex are finally set to go ahead after a lengthy battle with city bosses.
Newcastle City Council's planning committee granted approval for 57 flats to be built in the Ouseburn earlier.
An earlier version of the Lime Street development had been rejected in 2023 over concerns it would harm the Ouseburn Valley conservation area and inadequate light levels in some of the flats.
A planning inspector later upheld that decision after the developer appealed the council's verdict, but new versions of the plans were unanimously approved by the planning committee.
The revised plans, which were put forward by By the River Brew Co. co-founder Rob Cameron, include redesigns for three apartments at the southern end of the site to become dual-aspect to increase natural light.
Councillors were told there would be four commercial units on the ground and first floor which could become cafes, a bakery and offices, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Labour councillor Stephen Lambert said the new-build would be a major upgrade on the "grubby" state of the site.
The development will require the demolition of a former MOT centre and a pigeon cree.
The committee also heard the council had accepted the developer's argument it was not financially viable to provide any affordable housing in the Lime Street complex or provide funding to help build any elsewhere in the city.
