A new community centre is set to be built in a North Staffordshire town after Newcastle councillors gave the go-ahead.

An existing garage at the site will be demolished and replaced with a new building too as part of the redevelopment in Kidsgrove.

Newcastle Borough Council's planning committee approved the proposals at a meeting on Tuesday (October 10). The redevelopment of the land at The Meadows is part of the £16.9 million Kidsgrove Town Deal being led by the borough council.

A report to the committee said: "The proposal seeks permission for the erection of a community hub, which will provide a number of flexible offices and meeting rooms for the use of local groups. A new garage is also proposed along with additional car parking spaces within the site.

"The site contains two existing buildings, one of which is used as a vehicle repair shop and the other functions as a garage. The rest of the site is currently used a public parking area and the site is therefore classed as brownfield land.

"The community hub would be of a contemporary design, featuring a flat roof at a two storey level with a number of large windows which would create a generous and attractive fenestration arrangement. The proposed garage is to be a two storey structure measuring approximately 17m x 11m with an eaves height of 5m and a ridge height of 6.85m.

"The proposed car park will provide 25 spaces and two additional disabled spaces. The existing car park on the site currently provides space for 18 cars and as such there would be an increase of spaces as a result of the development."

Kidsgrove councillor Gill Burnett-Faulkner said: "This scheme is in my area. These buildings that are being demolished are a right hotchpotch and they are very untidy and unsightly.

"I think it will only improve the area. And the residents of Kidsgrove will be pleased that will be done."

Councillor Andrew Fear called for a condition requiring the new building's exterior to be red in colour to match others in the area, which was supported by fellow committee members. He said: "What worries me is the design.

"The officers talked about what is there at the moment as being mediocre. It seems to me we are going to replace an old mediocrity with a modern mediocrity and if we look at this building, it's a shoebox with holes cut out of it.

"The other thing that concerns me is the colour of the new structure. We've seen from Google Maps that red brick sets are the norm and we are told we should try and enhance areas when we make new developments.

"I would like to think members would agree with me that even if they put up with a shoebox, that shoebox should be a red one and not a grey one. Development of this area is welcome, but not welcome at any price."

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