Developers have launched plans to demolish an empty office block in Newcastle and replace it with a new student accommodation scheme.
Eastgate House forms part of the former King’s Manor Central Business and Technology Park, where hundreds of people worked in the 1990s.
Most of the offices in that area, close to Manors Metro station, now lie empty, prompting plans to regenerate the area by replacing the old offices with new student housing buildings.
That plan is already moving forward with planning approval granted to flatten a number of buildings – including Clough House, Manor View House and Technopole – and turn them into student flats, creating a student village close to universities and colleges and freeing up residential homes in the city’s suburbs.
Now Newcastle developer Adderstone Group, which has driven plans for a number of student schemes in the city, has developed proposals for Eastgate House at the Manors Business Park, which would see the demolition of the outdated building and creation of a new seven and eight-storey high student accommodation building.
Ryder Architecture has been enlisted to apply for planning permission, submitting documents which show how the scheme would look.
In design documents, the architects say: “Comprising purpose built, high quality residential accommodation and commercial spaces at ground level to meet local demand, the scheme will complement the ambition for the redevelopment of the wider Manors Business Park.
“Creating vibrant and well connected residential accommodation on the proposed site will form the next step in the regeneration of Manors Business Park, aiming to provide a new cohesive city quarter comprising residential led mixed use development.”
Around 290 bedrooms would be created through studio apartments and two to six-bedroom cluster apartments, all fully furnished with kitchen and en suite shower rooms.
Proposals also include communal spaces allocated for residents at ground level and two roof terrraces.
“As purpose built student accommodation is becoming more evident in and around the city centre there are a number of precedents to compare. The drive for new accommodation is still apparent with former university halls of residence becoming unsuitable for student living. Alongside this is the aspiration to free up residential properties in nearby communities (such as Jesmond and Heaton) for young professionals and families.”
A planning statement submitted by Adderston Group added: “Although the site was previously identified as an area to be retained in employment use by the Newcastle Unitary Development Plan 1998, a growing recognition has emerged in more recent years that the continued use of the site for employment uses is not viable. This is due to sustained low demand for the existing office space within the wider Business Park.
“This site offers the council a chance to create student accommodation in a location which is easily accessible. The council recognises that students play an important role in Newcastle’s economy so in order to encourage the growth of its educational institutions, there still needs to be more sites allocated for student development. With the site’s proximity to both Newcastle University and Northumbria University, it is an obvious location for student accommodation development.
“Also, more student accommodation within the urban core will relieve the pressure on residential areas at the edge of the city centre, which would allow those areas to become a place for family homes again. As the development will provide housing in the form of student accommodation, it will help ensure the vitality of Newcastle city centre.”
