Plans to spend £3.5m of public money on a controversial development that could scupper a future expansion of St James’ Park have been shelved.
It emerged last week that bosses at the North of Tyne Combined Authority (NTCA) were planning to help cover a “viability gap” in the contentious transformation of Strawberry Place with new flats, offices, and a hotel. The construction plans have been a source of fierce debate for years, with Newcastle United fans worrying that it could block any possible extension of the Gallowgate End and even force the football club to one day move out of its iconic city centre home.
News that the combined authority was set to invest almost £3.5m from its Brownfield Housing Fund to help finally get the delayed development moving prompted a new wave of opposition, including from Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah. But politicians instead decided on Tuesday afternoon to defer the funding approval – and the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) understands the idea is likely to be dropped.
