Place of worship at Gateshead Railway Club, Gateshead

What was proposed

The application sought to change the ground-floor use from a public house to a place of worship, without external alterations.

“Planning permission is sought for the change of use of a public house (Sui Generis) to place of worship (Use Class F1).”

Officer report

The site and surroundings

The vacant former club is in a town centre conservation area, within a locally listed building containing 25 flats and mixed commercial uses.

“The application site is the former Gateshead Railway Club, a former Social Club/Public House at ground floor level, located on the corner of Wellington Street and Hudson Street within the Bridges Conservation Area and the newly created Gateshead Railway Quarter. The building is included on the Local List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest.”

“The area comprises of a mix of commercial uses at ground floor level, including public houses, tattoo parlours, shops and cafes.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

Earlier permission converted the building to 25 flats and required soundproofing and noise checks for the social club.

“DC/06/00779/FUL - Conversion of railwayman's club to 25 apartments (use class C3) including relocation of club to ground floor and installation of a substation (amended 04/08/06) - GRANTED 16.08.2006.”

“This planning permission included conditions that required the soundproofing of the social club, and post construction checks to assess internally generated noise arising from amplified music and speech from the club and whether this could result in an unacceptable degree of disturbance to the flats above. The permission did not impose any trading hours restrictions on the social club.”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the town-centre location, heritage impact, residential amenity and highway effects acceptable, subject to conditions.

“The main planning considerations are principle of the development, impact upon heritage asset, visual amenity, residential amenity and highway safety.”

“The application site is not allocated for any particular use but is located within a defined Town Centre. Whilst not defined by the National Planning Policy Framework 2024 (NPPF) as a main town centre use, a place of worship is considered to be a compatible use in a town centre and as such the change of use to a place of worship is considered acceptable, in this location.”

Officer report

What people said

Twenty-two objections raised concerns including parking, traffic, noise, antisocial behaviour, loss of a community asset and effects on local businesses.

“Neighbour notifications were carried out in accordance with formal procedures introduced in the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) Order 2015.”

“- Out of character with the area - Lack of parking - Increased traffic - Noise impact - Anti-social behaviour - Conflict to existing community - Loss of a community asset - Lack of local demand - Limited community benefit - Signage not in keeping with conservation area - Impact upon local business…”

Officer report

Who spoke

There were no speakers.

The committee’s decision

Permission was granted with conditions covering commencement, approved plans, bicycle storage, noise control and off-street waste storage.

“That permission be GRANTED subject to the following condition(s) and that the Service Director of Climate Change, Compliance, Planning and Transport be authorised to add, vary and amend the planning conditions as necessary…”

“Any material change to the approved plans will require a formal planning application to vary this condition and any non-material change to the plans will require the submission of details and the agreement in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to any non-material change being made.”

Minutes