Plans put forward to 'decommission' town bank

The old Barclays Bank site has listed building status

Plans to "decommission" a bank housed in a listed building have been put forward.

The old Barclays Bank building at 1-3 King Street in South Shields will be closed as the bank prepares to move to a new site on the same road.

Decommissioning work at the old site will include removing signs, external lights and the night safe.

A decision on the proposed work will be made once a consultation period has been completed.

Barclay's current branch will close at 12:00 GMT on 8 March as the bank prepares to move to its new site at the former Burton store at 64-66 King Street.

The old building was recently put on the market with an asking price of £375,000, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Preserving listed status'

The decommissioning plans submitted to South Tyneside Council includes sealing letter boxes, removing cash machines and infilling the spaces with matching stonework.

Documents submitted to the council state: "The proposed works are intended to return the building to pre‐Barclays occupation as much as it is possible, preserving the listed building status."

The building’s listing on Historic England’s website states it dates back to 1909 and was designed by J H Morton Architect.

Comments on the plan can made on South Tyneside Council's planning portal website.