Residential college at Angel View Inn, Low Eighton, Gateshead

What was proposed

The application sought to convert the hotel and restaurant into a residential college for 50 to 60 students and seven staff, with no external alterations.

“DESCRIPTION OF APPLICATION 1.9 The application seeks consent for the change of use of the site from a hotel/ restaurant (use class C1) to residential college (use class C2).”

“The information provided states that the college would accommodate 50 - 60 students. Students would study and reside at the property therefore it would operate 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. There would be no day students.”

Officer report

The site

The Angel View Inn is in Low Eighton, within the Green Belt, with two access points, 59 parking spaces and a public right of way through the site.

“DESCRIPTION OF SITE 1.2 The Angel View Inn is located off the A167 from Gateshead to Birtley in the small settlement of Low Eighton, formerly a colliery site situated within the Green Belt.”

“The application site can be accessed via two entrances, one from the A167 and the second from Long Bank, and it has a 59-space car park. A public right of way runs though the site.”

Officer report

Planning history

Earlier permissions covered extensions, hotel accommodation, storage, dining facilities and courtyard works, while some proposals were refused on visual amenity, Green Belt or access grounds.

“DC/13/00073/FUL Planning permission granted for ‘Proposed pillared Canopies to Bar (SW elevation) and Hotel (Courtyard) entrance, with external works’. Dated 19.03.2013”

“54/99 Planning permission refused for ‘Erection of single-storey extension on south-west side of public house/hotel to provide enlarged kitchen, store room and lobby’. Dated 25.02.1999. Refused on visual amenity and Green Belt grounds.”

Officer report

Officers’ recommendation

Officers recommended refusal because the intensified use would cause unacceptable noise for nearby residents and inadequate light and outlook for some future bedrooms.

“It is considered that the proposed change of use of this site to a residential college is unacceptable as it would be detrimental to the amenity of nearby residents due to increased noise disturbance caused by an intensification of the use of the site. Furthermore, the proposed living conditions, in terms of outlook and provision of natural light to a number of habitable rooms, would be unacceptable.”

“The proposed change of use would be detrimental to the amenity of future occupiers of bedrooms with windows on the south west facing elevations. This is due to inadequate natural light reaching these rooms and their limited outlook. The proposal would therefore conflict with the aims and objective of the NPPF and Policies CS14 and MSGP17 of the Local Plan for Gateshead.”

Officer report

Who spoke

Two people spoke against the application; the agent, a rabbi and another speaker spoke in favour.

The decision

Permission was refused because of persistent disruptive noise for surrounding residents and inadequate natural light and outlook for some future bedroom occupants.

“2) The proposed change of use would be detrimental to the amenity of future occupiers of bedrooms with windows on the south west facing elevations. This is due to inadequate natural light reaching these rooms and their limited outlook. The proposal would therefore conflict with the aims and objective of the NPPF and Policies CS14 and MSGP17 of the Local Plan for Gateshead.”

Minutes