Green light set for Newcastle office development

A proposal for the erection of two additional storeys on top of an existing office building in Newcastle looks set to be given the green light when it goes before planners later this week.The plans, which were submitted to Newcastle City Council by Intersect Architects, looks to add a further two floors of purpose built office accommodation to the currently vacant three-storey office building within The Kings Manor Business Park.It is proposed to refurbish the existing office and ancillary accommodation, including the re cladding of existing elevations and alterations to cycle parking.The building currently provides approximately 26,000 sq ft of office space, with the proposed development likely to create about 44,000 sq ft of gross office space.Kings Manor Business Park, which is located to the east of Newcastle City Centre, accommodates six buildings including five office buildings.There is a single vehicle access point into the site, and a one way traffic system operates around a central landscaped area which provides a focal point to the Business Park.This proposal follows a previous application on this site which sought to demolish the existing office building and erect a seven and eight storey building for student accommodation and a commercial unit at the ground floor. This application was granted but the legal agreement was not signed.A report set to be scrutinised by the planning committee recommends that the application be granted, subject to conditions.