Council says taller EastEnd apartment buildings should be approved

The cleared site of the former Market Square shops revealing a new view of Christ Church Cathedral from the waterfront. Iris Capital has proposed retaining most of this view in return for higher buildings on other parts of its redevelopment site. Picture by Simone De Peak

Newcastle council says controversial changes to the height and massing of Iris Capital's apartment development in the Hunter Street Mall should be approved because the new proposal is "substantially the same" as an earlier version given the green light in 2017.

The development has faced a backlash from the Newcastle Club, Newcastle Inner City Residents Association, Newcastle East Residents Group, the National Trust and Anglican Dean Katherine Bowyer after Iris lodged revised plans for the project last year.