UK: The former home of the Newcastle Chronicle is set to be demolished to make way for two new hotels, in multimillion-pound plans from publisher Reach Plc.
The old Thomson House building in Newcastle’s Groat Market was home to the newspaper and website publisher for 53 years until a move to new offices last year.
Following consultation with nearby businesses, residents and heritage groups, Reach Plc has revealed proposals to clear the site to make way for a £24 million hotel and aparthotel scheme, creating nearly 200 jobs.
If approved, the 1960s print hall and office building will be replaced by a 96-key aparthotel and a 198-room hotel.
The aparthotel would have standard, large and accessible studios, and the application also includes plans for a restaurant, meeting rooms and a gym.
Reach, owner of the Express and Mirror newspapers and an extensive local press network, has appointed Paradigm Property Consultants as development managers, with a design team including MLA Architects and Lichfields Planning.
The project is expected to create more than 40 new jobs in the hotels and associated facilities, as well as 150 jobs during the 18 month construction phase.
Reach plc and its consultants, together with the city council and Historic England, have “consulted at length to evolve a design in keeping with the city’s architectural and historic legacy”.
