Plans lodged to restore fire-hit university halls

The blaze destroyed the building's roof in 2023, leaving it exposed to the elements

Plans to restore a university halls of residence which was left roofless by a blaze have been submitted.

Newcastle University's Henderson Old Hall in High Heaton in June 2023, which resulted in the loss of its original roof and all windows on the second and third floors.

University bosses have lodged proposals to reconstruct and repair the building which includes replacing roof lights, cast iron gutters and masonry walls.

The plans also revealed that water used to extinguish the blaze, followed by the months in which the building was left exposed to the elements, has led to "severe deterioration" at its lower levels.

Henderson Old Hall was the first purpose-built student halls for male students of what was then Armstrong College in the early 1930s and remained in use as accommodation until the late 2010s.

It was left empty after its closure and was disused at the time of the fire.

Two teenage boys admitted setting the fire - which caused about £15m of damage -in 2024.

Newcastle University said earlier this year that it wanted to make the repairs following fears from former students who worried that their old halls of residence could be lost forever.

The university plans to reconstruct and repair all other external damage to provide a "weather and watertight shell" which would allow the building to "dry out" before further repairs are undertaken.

Under the proposals, new alarms and CCTV will also be installed.

The plans detailed that the building suffered "irreparable" harm to its Great Hall, and damage to its oak floor boards.

The fire caused millions of pounds of damage

Other fixtures would be stripped out and later reinstated in a second phase of development.

A report from Space Architects detailed that the works "would return the building to a state that closely represents its original form prior to the fire".

"The works are therefore perceived to represent less than substantial harm," it stated.

Councillor Greg Stone said the authority "very much welcomed the fact that the Old Hall will be conserved and our initial impression is that the plans are sensitive and respectful of the listed building's heritage".