The site of a former burnt-out Whitley Bay Church has been given a new lease of life with new terraced homes due to be built.
North Tyneside Council’s planning committee decided the site of the former Trinity United Reformed Church on Esplanade Place will now become 12 new houses. The church was demolished in July 2021 after burning down in 2017.
The project will construct five three-bedroom and seven two-bedroom houses each with private gardens.
Read More: Fire ravaged Whitley Bay Church reduced to rubble after building left derelict for four years
The developer, Fordinghall Ltd, states in its application that each home will be allocated a parking space at the rear of each property. However, resident Stephen Overy argued the area should have included permit parking or restricted parking to alleviate the existing parking issues in the area.
Mr Overy said: “Generally between 9am and 5pm on weekdays there are no parking spaces available on the street. I am requesting a more holistic consideration for parking before this is given permission.
“I would suggest it would be appropriate to extend parking restrictions to Esplanade if this goes ahead. I understand that the development has 12 parking spaces, what I would say is they are theoretical parking spaces but the practical effect of these buildings is going to be more parking on the unrestricted areas in front of houses.”
Despite these objections, the council’s highway team did not object to the proposals. Council documents state: “A suitable level of parking will be provided along with appropriate cycle storage and refuse storage within the development.”
Whitley Bay councillor John O’Shea claimed there was insufficient support based on his own surveys in the area for permit or restricted parking. Coun O'Shea had conducted two surveys over the last five years to determine the public appetite for such schemes.
The proposal was ultimately green-lit with seven votes in favour.
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