City tower block demolition delayed

No date has been set for bringing down Hexham House in Walker

The demolition of a derelict tower block which will pave the way for a new housing estate has been delayed.

Hexham House, in Walker, Newcastle, was to be brought down in late May.

Newcastle City Council said plans were "progressing but, as with any work of this type, safety must be a primary concern".

The last explosive demolition in the city was in 2008, when Sir Bobby Robson pushed the button as the old Scottish and Newcastle Brewery was reduced to rubble.

The Labour-led local authority wants to remove the 16-storey block and redevelop the Church Street land as a new housing estate.

A spokesperson said the council was talking to local stakeholders and service providers to make sure the demolition is completed "safely and efficiently".

"We recently held an information day with local residents to identify any support we may need to put in place on demolition day," they said.

"We will confirm the date of the demolition once it is agreed."

Copper piping theft

Titan House - Hexham House’s former neighbour - was pulled down in 2023 in a gradual process that saw "nibbling machines" used to remove the block.

In March, the council said a controlled explosion was deemed the safest option for the second tower.

Plans to get rid of the two blocks have been in the works for years and have suffered multiple setbacks, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

In 2022, officials warned that work to remove asbestos from the empty sites had been "made more challenging" after thieves broke into the building to steal copper piping.

The clearance works, which include bringing down a block of low-rise flats over the nearby Church Walk shops, will eventually pave the way for up to 50 new homes.