A new apartment complex will be built in Ouseburn, after “somewhat vacuous” objections from nearby pubs were dismissed by councillors.
Plans for 50 flats in St Lawrence Road, directly behind the Free Trade Inn, were unanimously approved by Newcastle City Council’s planning committee on Friday. Both the Free Trade Inn and nearby Tyne Bar had voiced major opposition to the scheme, from developer A&A Properties, fearing that the six-storey block’s future residents will make noise complaints that could lead to restrictions being put on the venue’s operations and even force closure.
But councillors agreed with city planners’ view that noise would not be a concern and gave their backing to the proposals. The Free Trade Inn’s management said that the development “places our business at risk”, with the Tyne Bar claiming it “threatens to tear the beating heart out of Ouseburn”.
