Heliport housing appeal thrown out

4 hours ago

Daniel HollandLocal Democracy Reporting Service

The Planning Inspectorate blocked 356 apartments proposed for Forth Yard in Newcastle

Hi-Track Aerial Photography An aerial view of Forth Yard in Newcastle. The land stands between the River Tyne and the green Utilita Arena. The land is covered in sparse grass and dirt tracks. — The Planning Inspectorate blocked 356 apartments proposed for Forth Yard in Newcastle

An appeal against the refusal of planning permission for an £87m housing development has been thrown out by a government body.

The scheme for up to 356 apartments on the Newcastle City Heliport site, to the west of the Utilita Arena, was rejected in 2024 by the city council and that decision has now been upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

When initially refused planning permission, it was branded "one of the worst" schemes proposed on Tyneside in years.

Heliport owners MB European Limited appealed against the verdict but planning inspector John Dowsett concluded "the adverse effects of granting permission would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits".

The development would have been spread across a series of apartment blocks up to seven storeys tall, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The heliport site in Railway Street forms part of Forth Yards, a vast stretch of largely derelict industrial land which city leaders see as critical to Newcastle's future.

More than £120m has been pledged by the government to kickstart the long-awaited Quayside West regeneration of the neighbouring site of the former Calders leadworks.

The heliport proposal was branded by the council as "one of the worst" in years

MB European Ltd An artist's impression on how the flats could have looked, with buildings up to seven storeys tall, surrounded by pedestrianised streets and pocket parks. — The heliport proposal was branded by the council as "one of the worst" in years

Dowsett described the planned heliport housing as "visually incongruous" and said it would "undermine a key view" from the south side of the River Tyne.

The inspector also sided with the council on concerns about the noise impact of a gas pumping station to the north of the heliport site which would potentially affect 116 of the new flats.

A spokesperson from MB European confirmed it was "reviewing the decision carefully to enable the team to decide our next steps".

They said the company remained "confident that the site value as an allocated housing opportunity has not been eroded".

But they added: "The Inspectorate gave little weight to the cleaning up of a city centre brownfield site, delivery of affordable housing and the many new jobs and investment to be created by allowing the appeal."