A national developer could take on the historic Gibson Street Baths early next year after it emerged a firm is in talks with owners Newcastle City Council.
The Byker baths – one of the oldest public bath houses in England – went back on the market for a third time in January after plans for a community group to turn the building into a cultural hub collapsed.
Now it has emerged that the first bit of progress in more than two years is being made on a future for the building, following news that a developer has expressed an interest in the 101-year-old building.
An announcement could be made early in the new year revealing how it might be used in the future.
It is not known what the unnamed developer has planned for the building - nor if it will definitely proceed.
A council spokesman said: “Gibson Street Baths was put on the market earlier this year and received a number of expressions of interest. This was after we went through a lengthy process, and strenuous efforts, to try and transfer it to a local community organisation.
“We are now working with a developer who is carrying out structural surveys and other checks. We will then enter into a legal process and hope to make an announcement early next year.”
The building was originally put up for auction by the council in 2016 as part of moves to sell off empty properties and help tackle budget cuts.
That process was halted when a community campaign was launched to save the 101-year-old building, giving groups the chance to buy the building.
Campaigners with Save Gibson Street Baths for People not Developers, the group which succeeded in getting the building listed as an Asset of Community Value, had been given several months to put together a business and funding plan, and wanted to turn it into a social enterprise hotel, cafe, bar and community space.
The project, however, did not come to fruition, prompting the council to once more inviting offers for the landmark building, with property agents Lambert Smith Hampton marketing it.
The council’s planning department says it wants to see the building restored and is flexible about future uses, saying the property is potentially suited to offices, residential, care home, health and leisure uses, although any development proposals must take into account the Grade II-listing.
The building, which opened in 1907, closed in 1965 as public baths and was until recently being used as a badminton club.
When it was put up for sale earlier this year, Coun Ged Bell, the council’s cabinet member for inclusive growth, said: “Gibson Street Baths was one of the earliest public baths in the country. We put it on the market and worked closely with a community group when they came forward to ask that it be listed as an asset of community value. Unfortunately, they were unable to put together a viable business case and we were left with no option but to put it back on the market.
“The property has amazing potential but, while it is empty, it is also deteriorating, so it’s important we find a buyer who will invest in it so it can be brought back into use. It’s on a very prominent site and, given its history, it would be great to see it used once again.”
