An empty shop unit in Newcastle town centre can now be converted into a circus centre celebrating one of the borough's most famous sons.

Government funding is being used to open the new Astley Centre for Circus and Performing Arts in Merrial Street.

The centre will be run by a Community Interest Company (CIC) and the vacant building will be renovated to create a museum, research area and training and teaching facility. It is being named in honour of Philip Astley, who was born in Newcastle in the 18th century and went on to create the modern circus.

On Tuesday (May 23) Newcastle Borough Council's planning committee gave the green light for the change of use of the Merrial Street premises to a circus and arts workshop and heritage exhibition area. Previously permission was granted for offices in the building to be used as temporary supported accommodation during the winter of 2020/2021.

The vacant building will be renovated to create a museum, research area and training facility (Nub News).

Committee member Councillor Andrew Fear said: "This seems to me to be entirely unproblematic. I wish it success."

Councillor Richard Gorton said: "I certainly welcome the principle of the circus heritage centre – I think it's right the borough celebrates its connection with the founder of the modern circus. There's just one thing about the application that worries me.

"For a circus centre I would have thought having space for displays and demonstrations would be really helpful but that's not going to happen with this particular location. If you think about the Brampton and what you could do up there if the circus centre was located as part of the museum, that's my only real reservation – I wish it was in a slightly better location."

But committee chairman Paul Northcott responded: "That's slightly beyond our control".

The centre will be named after Philip Astley, born in Newcastle, who created the modern circus (Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council).

Speaking before the meeting, the councillor's deputy leader and cabinet member for finance, town centres and growth Stephen Sweeney said: "Moving to Merrial Street will get this project up and running, with the added bonus of bringing a town centre building back to life.

"This is an exciting, distinctive development, which not only celebrates Philip Astley, the man regarded as the father of the modern circus, but has huge potential for the future. Newcastle has a unique opportunity to create something extraordinary here which in the long term could boost our town centre enormously."

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