New vibrant community space to be built on former Tyneside shipyard

National planning consultancy Boyer has received planning permission for the development of 446 new homes, community and commercial spaces.

Consent was confirmed at the South Tyneside’s Planning Committee on September 5. The planning was approved on behalf of Hebburn Riverside Development Ltd.

This project will represent a significant regeneration plan, transforming the former dockyard into a vibrant new community that will be full of homes, shops and restaurants.

It will be located on the banks of the River Tyne which is known to be an attractive landscaped setting.

As well as shops and restaurants, a new pavilion building is set to fill the space. Various ‘pop ups’ will be filling the space, but the establishment will be permanently hosting an exhibition that depicts the rich history of the site.

The design of the riverside’s properties will be influenced by the site’s shipbuilding heritage. The larger scale apartment buildings will be complete with design references providing a subtle reference to marine construction.

The houses will reflect the Victorian style of architecture that can be found in Hebburn.

In acknowledgement to the site’s wartime history, it is proposed that the development is named ‘Kelly’s Yard’ in honour of the World War II K-class destroyer, HMS Kelly, which was built and launched on the site in 1938.

Phillip Allin, Director of the planning consultancy Boyer has said: ‘We are delighted to have achieved this positive outcome which will lead to the transformation of this brownfield site bringing a vacant and inaccessible section of the riverside back into active use, creating a vibrant and sustainable community through an appropriate mix of much needed homes and community uses.

‘The new scheme will result in the remediation of this former industrial site, making it safe for future generations. It will ensure the protection of local mudflats and saltmarshes which are of importance ecologically and reduce pressure on the Green Belt – a significant consideration of the emerging plan.

Photo by Penny Norton