Hotel plan will create 360 jobs

Apr 8 2009 By The Journal

AROUND 360 jobs would be created by a new 200-bedroom hotel on the banks of the Tyne.

Gateshead councillors are being advised by planners to back the hotel and office development at South Shore Road, to the east of the Baltic arts centre.

The application by MRP (Baltic) Ltd is for an office building and a U-shaped hotel with reception area, bar, lounge, restaurant, and conference and business centre at ground floor level. It would have 50 bedrooms on each of the first, second, third and fourth floors.

It is claimed that in addition the development will complement the activities of the Baltic Business Quarter, providing accommodation to visitors to the Design Centre for the North, and will support NewcastleGateshead as a city-break destination.

The applicant is willing to enter into a legal agreement to secure an off-site nesting provision for kittiwakes who make their home in the area.

An archaeological excavation on the site recorded the remains of part of Gateshead Iron Works, which was in operation from 1747 to 1889.