Demolition work has started to clear the way for a new housing development on the site of the former Queen Alexandra College in North Shields.
National housing partnership specialist Lovell bought the four-acre site off Queen Alexandra Road in March after planning consent was granted by North Tyneside Council for 47 new homes.
A planning agreement has been finalised to secure funding of more than £625,000 from Lovell to support local services and infrastructure, including contributions towards parks and green spaces, coastal mitigation, children’s play space and biodiversity measures. The agreement also includes a training, employment and community plan to provide an apprenticeship, placements, volunteer hours, support for the local supply chain and local employment.
Phil Jones, Lovell Director of Land and Partnerships in the North East, said:
“This is an opportunity for Lovell to transform a brownfield site within an existing residential area into a desirable neighbourhood in easy reach of amenities, where people will enjoy living.
“The homes we have planned will enhance the setting of the listed former college building, which is to be retained on the site and restored.
“There is pent-up local demand for quality housing in this community. In the coming years more homes will be required. This new development will make an important contribution to the local housing supply and help to meet that need in a sustainable way.”
The site, which formed part of the Queen Alexandra Campus of TyneMet College, has been vacant since 2024. The buildings earmarked for demolition are modern structures dating from the 20th century. The original Grade II listed Edwardian college building will be converted by another developer.
The development will feature a mix of three and four-bedroom homes, including detached, semi-detached and terraced properties.
The homes will all have electric vehicle charging points and will be built using the ‘fabric first’ approach which focuses on good thermal performance and sustainability.
As part of the planning agreement, Lovell will make financial contributions of £443,000 towards sports facilities, £32,900 for children’s equipped play space, £29,175 for parks and green spaces, £15,839 for coastal mitigation, £9,165 for biodiversity mitigation, £7,258 for allotments, and around £85,000 towards the provision of affordable housing in the borough.
Construction work on the new homes is due to start in the summer and the first properties are expected to be completed by November 2026.