Councillors have approved plans to demolish and replace a 1960s shopping centre in Newcastle town centre.

The York Place shopping complex – at the junction of High Street, Merrill Street and Church Street – will be replaced by two buildings as well as a new public square.

The new buildings will be three-storey and four-storey in height, with retail premises on the ground floors and office space above.

The site is situated within Newcastle-under-Lyme's conservation area, and is also close to the Grade II listed Old Bull's Head.

Officers said the plans took these factors into account.

In a report on the plans, they state: "The design, scale and appearance of the proposed development would protect and enhance, and as such would not harm, the character and appearance of the conservation area or the setting of the nearby listed buildings."

The report adds: "Such development would enhance the vitality and viability of the town centre by encouraging its use by a greater range of people for different purposes, possibly at different times of the day and night.

The site is situated within Newcastle-under-Lyme's conservation area (Nub News).

"This helps to strengthen the social fabric and economic viability of the Town Centre. It also has positive implications in terms of sustainable development as it encourages proximity of uses, reducing the need to travel."

They said the space within the existing shopping arcade is inflexible and has not been able to adapt to the changing trends for town centres, which has led to high vacancy rates.

The current building is also mentioned in a recent appraisal as being a key detractor within the street scene.

Cllr Mark Holland praised the plans, saying they'd been well thought-through.

He said: "It's certainly an improvement on the current York Place. There's clearly a great deal of thought gone into it.

"I'm minded to be supportive of what's proposed."

He said it was a key project in the redevelopment of the town centre.

Councillors have praised the 'well thought through' plans (Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council).

Cllr Andrew Fear was similarly pleased with the forthcoming scheme, and feels the current building left a lot to be desired.

He said: "This is a product of that worst of all decades of the 20th century, the 1960s. It is a rather decaying, ugly box."

He added: "When one looks at older photographs I think what's proposed here will in fact come much closer to fitting in with what we've had in the past."

Cllr Fear said the layout of the scheme would help enhance the town's nighttime economy, and make it a safe and pleasant place to be.

He also asked that the developers to use the site's hoardings to ensure it matched the solemn occasion of Remembrance Sunday, if work is still ongoing at that point.

The new York Place proposals were passed unanimously by the council's planning committee earlier this month.

READ MORE: Stoke council roundup: New bus fares, fly-tipping crackdown and volunteering 

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