Short-stay flats in Bigg Market approved

The plans received objections from nearby bars

A building in Newcastle's Bigg Market will be transformed into more than 100 short-stay apartments, after councillors backed redevelopment plans.

The city council's planning committee approved proposals, put forward by Monument Real Estate, to convert the Cathedral Square offices, which are mostly empty.

The upper floors of the site, which is also home to businesses including Simply Greek and Revolucion de Cuba at ground level, will be repurposed as 135 serviced apartments.

It was signed off on Friday, despite concerns about adding accommodation at the heart of one of the busiest and rowdiest parts of Newcastle city centre.

The Revolution Bars Group, Cosy Joes and the Market Shaker all objected to the scheme, fearing they could suffer as a result of potential noise complaints from occupants of the apartments.

'Sufficient insulation'

Blakelaw councillor Marion Williams, Labour, told the committee hearing the plans had left her "scratching my head".

Williams raised concerns about people staying in "perhaps the noisiest part of town" for periods of potentially up to six months, in rooms where windows cannot be opened.

Manor Park ward representative Doreen Huddart, Liberal Democrat, also said she worried the Labour-led council lacked sufficient powers to regulate the rise of Airbnb-style accommodation in the city.

However, council planners replied they had been satisfied that sufficient insulation measures would be installed to ensure no noise would be audible inside the apartments from Revolucion de Cuba or any other bars.

They added that the development of the building would aid the revitalisation of the Bigg Market area by returning vacant space to use.

A three-storey extension will also be added on top of the building, while an existing section of Cathedral Square, which protrudes out on to the Cloth Market, will be demolished as part of the regeneration.