Plans to tear down a North Shields office block to make way for "high quality" housing have come one step closer as an application to demolish the building has been submitted to the borough's planning department.
North Tyneside Council completed the purchase of Unicorn House in Suez Street – a large three-storey building which has been vacant for nearly seven years in early February.
At the time it revealed plans to bulldoze the building, which used to be occupied by its staff, to make way for a "high-quality, housing-led regeneration scheme" complementing the ongoing work at Northumberland Square.
It is part of the council’s emerging North Shields master plan – aimed at transforming the town centre and riverside into an environment where more people choose to live, work and spend their leisure time.
Now, plans for the demolition of the building have been lodged with the council's planning department.
If its bid is successful the authority will flatten the entire structure leaving only an electricity substation.
An application document said: "The site is to be cleared in preparation for future regeneration."
However, this application only seeks permission for the demolition of the building, plans for its replacement have not yet been lodged.
North Tyneside Council's planning department is expected to decide the application next month.
