Food market plans for 'bleak' city centre square

The proposed food market would be in part of Princess Square and the first floor of the Pearl building in Newcastle

Plans have been submitted to turn a "bleak" corner of a city centre into a street food market.

Developers said the £2.3m development would help resolve anti-social behaviour problems at Princess Square in Newcastle city centre.

But nearby residents claimed noise from the site meant they would "pay the price" for the development.

Newcastle City Council discussed the plans at a licensing hearing on Tuesday and will decide whether the plans will go ahead.

Licensing lawyer Richard Arnot, representing applicant Ben MacMillan, told the council Princess Square had suffered a “significant decline” in recent years and had become a “bleak” place.

“This is only yards away from our principal street, Northumberland Street," he said.

"There is so much happening in the city centre that we should be proud of, but it is a shame that Princess Square could be left behind.”

The developer claimed Princess Square has been "left behind"

Mr Arnot said the market would focus on food rather than alcohol.

Independent traders would use part of the square, which is next to Newcastle City Library, and a floor of the Pearl building.

The market could open until 23:00 from Monday to Thursday, and 02:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

But residents of Bewick Court tower block are objecting to the plans.

They were critical of noise from the former Stack shipping container village, which was on Pilgrim Street.

Resident Trudy Curtis said she supported the regeneration of Princess Square, but not the market plan.

"The impacts are likely to be significant and it will be the little people who pay the price," she said.

Neighbour Malcolm Vine said noise from the Stack had been so bad it forced him to sleep in his living room and stopped him from opening his windows.

Mr Arnot said the Stack was a "totally different beast" to the food market plans.

Northumbria Police and the council’s licensing, environmental health, and public health officials all withdrew objections to the licence application after agreeing to a set of conditions restricting the proposed venue’s activity – including a pledge that its outdoor seating area will shut at 22:00.