The first stage of massive plans to transform North Shields town centre have been lodged with the authority’s planning department.
North Tyneside Council’s ‘Ambition for North Shields and the Fish Quay’ masterplan, sets out proposals to improve the town and outlines nine separate projects to develop the town centre and Fish Quay.
The council plans to buy and demolish the empty Co-op store on Bedford Street which means it can build the new transport interchange and town square without having to pull down the buildings above the Metro tunnel.
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This move will save 18 months and a significant amount of money that would have been spent purchasing these properties and moving businesses.
Other plans include enhancing the appearance of key areas, creating a new transport hub and interchange and town square to host events, markets and performances, improved walking and cycling routes in the town centre, including public realm improvements at Bedford Street and Saville Street, a new cultural quarter and riverside walkway linking the town centre to the Fish Quay.
Now, plans have been submitted to pull down the building, which was also home to a Marie Curie charity shop.
If the plans go ahead the building, which continues into Railway Street and Rudyard Street would be “brought down carefully with machinery”, according to a planning document.
If the demolition goes ahead the empty property would make way for the planned transport hub.
If the application is approved by the authority’s planning department the work is expected to start in February and finish in May.
