Visions of a huge tower that could have been built at the mouth of the Ouseburn have been heavily scaled back under new plans unveiled by developers.
There was a public backlash to a proposed 18-storey apartment block earmarked for the vacant Malmo Quay site after dramatic designs were revealed last year, with locals branding the scheme a “monstrosity”. But the 223ft landmark has now been axed in favour of a "more modest" building after developer PfP-igloo promised to redraw its proposals, having seen the original project attract an overwhelming level of objections.
New images released on Wednesday instead showcase a “carefully redesigned” 10-storey block, which would contain 43 homes, in place of the tower.
Read More: Ouseburn tower block plans set to be redrawn after huge public backlash to 18-storey 'monstrosity'
As was the case in the original scheme, there are also plans for 13 three-storey townhouses on Malmo Quay and up to 73 homes in a set of buildings up to eight storeys tall on neighbouring Spillers Quay. The Cycle Hub would also still be demolished and relocated to a new building on Malmo under the reconfigured proposal.
Around 1,500 objections had been made against the scheme before a formal consultation deadline on the original plans in February, though it was later said at a public inquiry into a different Quayside development the following month that the number stood at between 2,000 and 3,000.
Ouseburn’s Free Trade Inn pub has been rallying opposition to the scheme, fearing the huge tower would dominate the East End skyline and block out the famous view of the Quayside from its beer garden. The Ouseburn Trust has opposed the plans after hearing the “overwhelming dislike” from residents at a public forum, at which the large tower was called “manky” and an “eyesore”.
Alec Hamlin, development manager at PfP-igloo, said: “The new plans we have developed for Malmo Quay will create a place that is sensitive to the character of surrounding neighbourhoods, something the consultation process to date has told us people want to see from this development. The principles of our earlier designs remain – the riverfront homes complement the riverside walkway, and we have retained some height with the apartment block, which is appropriate for a city centre riverside site and will provide a place-marker for the area, without overpowering the landscape.
“We think the plans represent a good balance, taking on board the feedback we gathered during the consultation process, while still delivering the elements that are important for this development; plenty of open public spaces, attractive, spacious homes that are well-designed and retaining a degree of height that marks the meeting of the River Tyne and the Ouseburn.”
The new plans, drawn up by Scandinavian firm White Arkitekter, have now been submitted to Newcastle City Council for consideration before councillors rule on whether they can go ahead.
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