Bellway looks to repurpose former South Tyneside College site
The housebuilder has submitted plans to build 115 homes and a sports pitch on the land at Victoria Road West in Hebburn, once home to the educational institution’s playing fields.
Bellway North East has already built a residential development on the former college campus, and this second parcel of land has a draft allocation for up to 115 homes in the emerging Local Plan.
Bellway is proposing a housing mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes, including four affordable rental properties and 10 homes available for sale at discounted market value.
Bellway has applied to South Tyneside Council for full planning consent for the 13-acre site, following a public consultation period.
South Tyneside College vacated the land in 2011 and, alongside South Shields Marine School, is currently in the process of relocating into the centre of town, with contractor Castle delivering a 160,000 sq ft campus on the high street.
Work will also include the conversion of a former BT building on the river into a 125-bed student accommodation block, and the refurbishment of a listed building to provide offices for staff.
As well as bringing both of these vacant buildings in the town centre back into use, the council hopes the relocation of the college from its Westoe site will encourage more footfall and invigorate South Shields.
The project is a partnership between Tyne Coast College and South Tyneside Council, and is being funded by Tyne Coast College, £18m from the North East Combined Authority, the Department for Education, and UK Government.
Stuart Morgan, land director for Bellway North East, said: “This development would help to meet demand for new private and affordable homes in South Tyneside while opening up a new sports facility for the local community to use.
“The homes would be energy efficient, featuring solar panels to provide free low-carbon electricity to residents, as well as electric vehicle charging points. There would also be landscaped areas, new wildlife habitats and trees planted within the development.
“The site is in a well-connected location, with schools, shops and leisure facilities nearby, good road links and convenient access to the Metro station at Pelaw.”
