Plans for Newcastle hotel scheme

Proposals to transform the former city centre home of the Newcastle Chronicle and Journal into a hotel and apart-hotel venture have been unveiled.Reach, owner of the Chronicle and Journal titles, is proposing to demolish Thomson House following the relocation of the newspapers staff to new offices in Eldon Court, last year.The 1960s print hall and office building will be replaced by a 198-bedroom hotel, targeting the young, leisure and business markets.The £24m development will also feature a 96-unit apart-hotel. A restaurant, meeting rooms and a gym are also included in the application. Reach has appointed Paradigm Property Consultants as development manager together with a full design team including MLA Architects and Lichfields Planning to work with the council.The project is expected to create more than 40 jobs in the hotels and associated facilities, as well as more than 150 jobs during the 18-month construction phase.