A long-awaited regeneration scheme to bring affordable homes and business units to Newcastle town centre has taken a major step forward after funding was given the go-ahead.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council has approved the allocation of more than £916,000 in developer funding to support Aspire Housing’s plans for the brownfield site on Marsh Parade, which was once home to the Zanzibar nightclub.
The development, in conjunction with social developer Capital&Centric, will see the vacant land transformed into 63 affordable homes for social rent and five new enterprise units.
A report to the borough council’s cabinet described the scheme as ‘unviable and hence undeliverable’ without public subsidy.
Cabinet members agreed to allocate the £916,000 funding – paid by developers Tilia Homes (formerly Kier) as a condition of a residential development at Wilmot Drive in Newcastle in 2018 – to support the delivery of affordable housing within the borough.
Councillor Andrew Fear, the borough council’s portfolio holder for strategic planning, said: “The Marsh Parade scheme is another vital part of Newcastle-under-Lyme’s ongoing regeneration which is transforming the town. Approval of this funding is a significant step forward in Aspire getting the scheme under way.
“As people know, this is where the Zanzibar club once stood, and this site has probably been vacant for around 15 years now – first with the empty club and then after demolition. It’s a gateway to Newcastle, and several schemes have been proposed and not gone through, so this has had a helping hand with this money. This will lead to 63 units of affordable housing, which we welcome.
“The project aligns with our commitment to sustainable growth, supporting the local economy and community, and delivering on Newcastle’s ambitions for a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable town centre.”
He added that an old advertising sign on the neighbouring wall, which has become a familiar landmark since the demolition, will remain visible once the new development is complete.
