Green light for £500,000 harbour development in Amble
and live on Freeview channel 276
Warkworth Harbour Commissioners (WHC) plans to build a new harbour office, RSPB facilities and four retail units on a site currently used for parking.
Maurice Burnett, WHC chairman, said: “The permission is great news. It means we can move ahead with detailed design, tender and then build out over the coming year.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“We will be sending out a tender invitation to local builders in May requesting a complete solution based on our design. The new building will be an opportunity to move to more renewable and sustainable energy generation for WHC and its tenants.
“As well as providing a new office on the quay for WHC the new building will deliver four new ground floor retail/office units for local businesses and a first floor home for the RSPB.
“Most importantly there will be a large and attractive first floor community room for community events, celebrations and training purposes.
“At the same time WHC will be considering a new use for its existing office building which sits on a prime site on the Little Shore.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“At the end of this process WHC will have transformed its office buildings, provided units for new businesses and jobs in the area and reduced its carbon footprint.”
There were three objections, including concerns about the scale and design of the proposed building.
Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership shared those concerns but was supportive of the principle for a new harbour office.
James Bellis, senior planning officer at Northumberland County Council, approved the scheme using delegated decision-making powers.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdHe said: “Whilst there is deemed to be an element of harm to the conservation area, it is considered that the public benefits of the scheme outweigh this harm.”
Planning consultant Jon Tweddell, in a report submitted alongside the application, stated: ‘The applicant has chosen to do something a little different in terms of the overall design.
‘Rather than replicate the design features of traditional buildings, they have opted for modern design features to show a contrast between old and new. This method is quite common on listed buildings and other heritage assets.’