Demolition of 'dangerous' buildings approved
BBC"Dangerous" parts of a locomotive works that played a key role in the development of railways in Britain are to be knocked down to make way for houses.
The Machine Shop and Smith's Shop in Newcastle will be demolished as part of the Founder's Place scheme being built behind the city's central station.
The buildings were once part of the workshops where, in the early 1800s, George and Robert Stephenson set up the first company in the world to build commercial steam trains.
They have fallen into a dilapidated state since being vacated in the early 2000s, but conservationists have voiced concerns about the scheme.
The buildings, which contain asbestos, have been repeatedly vandalised, Newcastle City Council's planning committee heard.
'Irreversible harm'
The committee approved plans from developer Igloo, which has been working with the council on the development of the Stephenson Quarter area.
The firm is clearing out the asbestos, removing unsafe areas, and making structural improvements.
It is hoped the works, which councillors were told would largely be removing 20th-Century additions to the buildings that have little historic value, will ultimately allow about 70 homes to be built on the South Street plot.
The plans were approved despite warnings from the Victorian Society that they could cause "irreversible harm" and should not have been allowed to proceed without "more concrete and comprehensive" safeguarding plans.
The developer has agreed to a phased approach to the demolition, which will allow for further assessments to determine which parts of the buildings are of significance, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.
Planners said that if the works, which are due to begin this summer, were not carried out then the buildings would likely have to be torn down entirely as they continued to deteriorate.
'Forgotten' area
Labour councillor Barry Phillipson told the hearing he was "really sad to see a building of such historic significance be allowed to deteriorate over a period of years to the extent we have seen".
He added: "I welcome the phased approach to try and save as much of this part of our history as possible.
"I would like to see this move forward before any more damage happens. I am really concerned about the structural integrity of what is left remaining there."
Igloo said the the future Orchard Yard development would provide family homes and apartments, along with business space, a public park and courtyard in a "forgotten part of the city".
The firm's Insiyah Khushnood described the granting of planning permission as "the first essential step to breathing new life into this derelict site".
Dan Greenhough, the council's cabinet member for economy, jobs and skills, added: "These are incredibly important buildings from a historic perspective, but they are also in a dangerous condition due to structural decay and asbestos."