Green light set for major hotel and apartment scheme

Proposals for a 20-storey hotel and apartment development look set to be given the green light when they go before planners next week.Plans for the erection of a building consisting of 202 hotel rooms and 244 serviced apartments on the corner of Hawks Road and Mill Road were submitted by Hawks Mill Student Developments.Split between two main uses, the northern section of the building will contain the serviced apartments, with the southern section allocated for hotel use. The apartments will be of mixed sizes, with 23 studios included in the proposals.A gym is proposed for the residents of the apartments, while the hotel will connect to a large bar and restaurant space.Also included in the plans is the erection of two commercial units, as well as 35 car parking spaces, with two allocated for disabled use, 102 secure cycle spaces and three motorcycle spaces. The site, which is now cleared following the demolition of existing office and warehousing buildings, sits on the upper edge of Tyne Gorge, near Gateshead College. The nearest residential development is to the north in the form of the high-rise Baltic flats, with the Remada Core hotel also bounding the proposed development site.In a report to be scrutinised by Gateshead Council’s planning and development committee on 6 November, it is recommended that the scheme be given the green light.