A new multi-million pound hotel on Newcastle’s Diamond Strip could be open by next summer, after securing the final approval from council bosses.
The developer behind plans to bring the Metropolitan Hotel to Collingwood Street says that a transformation of the city centre site will begin in the coming months.
Some doubt was cast over the project earlier this year as neighbouring residents raised fears over noise, litter, and rats in the area.
But those concerns were banished as the £2.5m scheme was awarded a drinks licence last month - and that has now been followed by Newcastle City Council granting planning permission, giving High Street Hospitality the green light to start the conversion.
The redevelopment will include a rooftop terrace, 18 individually themed hotel rooms, and a 1920s-themed Boardwalk Brasserie restaurant.
Phill Brumwell, the firm’s managing director, said: “With a license also recently granted, we can begin the process of creating a high quality hotel and restaurant in a well managed, family friendly city centre location, offering a fully rounded experience for all generations.
“As a responsible operator of leisure outlets across the region, we spent time with local residents who initially had concerns about the project, to reassure them that the Metropolitan Hotel would enhance the area and made changes to our plans such as additional lighting and CCTV coverage to Denton Chare.
“We have responded to concerns regarding waste storage and disposal by locating our bin store internally. We are also in discussions with the council and local residents about initiatives that might be adopted by other operators in the vicinity, which would help improve waste management.
“We hope to begin conversion work on the building before the end of the year and open for business by early next summer.”
Council planning officers concluded that the new hotel would “add to the range on offer in the city” and that bringing the disused building at 19-21 Collingwood Street would “outweigh any harm” caused by the redevelopment.
At a licensing hearing last month, the developer successfully argued that the venue would not create the same disruption as nearby bars and clubs.
Residents of the neighbouring Stamp Exchange had claimed in objections sent to the council that they are already forced to endure “insufferable” noise from drunken revellers and disgusting litter and rat infestations along Denton Chare.
But Jacqueline and Guy Ward withdrew their concerns after talks with the developer and said they had been reassured that the hotel would not add to those problems.
