Developers have unveiled plans to convert a historic Newcastle city centre building into an upmarket aparthotel.
Architects and planners have submitted applications which could see One Eldon Square’s redevelopment into serviced apartments, as well as a cafe or restaurant, on behalf of Belgravia Investment Group Limited. The Grade II star listed corner building, which has been vacant since beauty salon House of Savannah quit the building a number of years ago, was built in the late 1820s, having been designed by famed architects Thomas Oliver and John Dobson, when they were up-and-coming names in the North East.
Hexham-based Hedley Planning Services and Norr architects have submitted applications for the development of a listed building, as well as permission for change of use, as the property is currently classed as a hair salon and spa. The proposals would lead to the ground floor’s conversion into a café or restaurant, while the upper floors will be converted into serviced apartments spread across three floors, with five on the first floor, four on the second and three on the top floor.
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A statement by Hedley Planning Services says: “The proposed serviced rooms and studios seek to deliver high end accommodation for visitors and corporate guests to Newcastle. Each apartment offers a ‘home away from home’ accommodation that allows for long or short stays in a highly accessible location. The proposed serviced apartment layout would be delivered with minimal to no intervention into the historic fabric of the listed building.
“During the working week, it is anticipated that the majority of guests would be business travellers, staying for a minimum of one night and a maximum of four nights, Monday to Friday. Visitors to Newcastle would likely stay longer, between two to seven nights. Arrivals and departures will be given their own unique access code for the apartments, allowing guests to check in and out freely.
“The provision of serviced apartments in a highly sustainable city centre location would deliver a much-needed style of flexible visitor accommodation. In Newcastle city centre a demand exists for alternative visitor accommodation to a non-distinct hotel room.”
Heritage specialist Sarah Dyer highlights the building’s significance in a separate report, which says: “No.1 Eldon Square is part of the only surviving range of an early example of the fine craftsmanship and build quality in Newcastle. Both Thomas Oliver and John Dobson were in the early part of their architectural careers when these buildings were designed and built.
“They would both go on to be important and influential architects, but the attention to detail on the surviving row is testament to the attention to detail that both architects would go on to give to each building they designed in Newcastle and beyond. These buildings would become the blueprint of design for the redevelopment of the centre of Newcastle in the 1830s.”
In the design and access statement, the architects stress the sustainability of the aparthotel plans, adding: “The submitted scheme offers a high quality architectural solution to ensure the long term sustainability of a key city centre architectural asset that otherwise will continue to be vacant. The design team understand the importance of the original, historic features and have ensured that the integrity of the architecture remains undiminished with absolute minimal change required to the external elevations.”
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