A new housing development has been proposed for the former site of a church which burnt down five years ago.
Gateshead property developer, Fordinghall ltd, and the South Shields based Artisan Architecture have applied to construct 12 two-storey homes on the former site of the Trinity United Reform Church in Whitley Bay.
At the time of writing, no objections have been attached to the application.
Read More: Whitley Bay church destroyed by fire set to be demolished 'in next couple of months'
Whitley Bay councillor John O’shea said: “For several years I have been very concerned about the dereliction of the former church and the unsightly nature of the site. I am really really pleased someone has come forward with a planning application to develop the site. Clearly housing would benefit local people and certainly benefit local businesses.
“It will eliminate unsightly dereliction in the centre of Whitley Bay and I am supporting the application. I have written to the planning officer indicating my support for the development”.
Back in 2019, construction firm La Brisa Limited applied to demolish the church to construct 22 two-bedroom and six one-bedroom apartments with parking and landscaping. However, the application was later withdrawn in 2020 after the firm and the local authority could not reach an agreement regarding Section 106 payments.
The church caught fire in 2017 but it was not until 2021 that the building was eventually demolished and the site cleared. In the meantime, the derelict building became an eyesore and was a serious concern for neighbours.
In the intervening years, the church was a source of vandalism adding to pressure for something to be done to the site. Even after the fire-damaged church was demolished, the vacant plot became a hotspot for fly tipping.
Residents had also raised concerns about how the derelict church was affecting house prices in the area.
The church was originally opened to the public on November 25 1900. Its congregation peaked in the 1930s with approximately 900 members.
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