Cleared Ouseburn Valley Site With Consent for 128 Flats Goes on the Market

A cleared development site at the head of the Ouseburn Valley has been put up for sale, adding to the run of change along the burn that borders Heaton to the south. The freehold plot on Crawhall Road covers about 0.63 acres and comes with existing planning consent for 128 apartments, according to reports in Bdaily and BTR News published on 15 September.

The site is being marketed by property consultancy ATRE through an informal tender. It sits roughly half a mile east of the city centre, immediately above the Quayside and about a quarter of a mile from Manors Metro station, on the western edge of the valley that Heaton residents cross to reach the pubs, galleries and music venues below.

What is being proposed

As well as the standing consent for 128 flats, the marketing material notes that pre-application discussions have been held with the council over a larger scheme of around 200 co-living units. Co-living typically means compact private rooms with shared kitchens, lounges and workspaces, a model aimed largely at younger renters and one that has grown across other UK cities but is still uncommon in Newcastle.

Nothing beyond the 128-flat consent has yet been formally submitted, so the co-living figure remains an early idea rather than an approved plan. Any change on that scale would go through the usual planning process, with public consultation, before anything is decided.

"Crawhall Road represents a rare opportunity to acquire a substantial, cleared development site in one of Newcastle's most distinctive and dynamic neighbourhoods," said Richard Turner, a director at ATRE.

What it means for the valley

The Ouseburn has spent two decades shifting from a run of former industrial yards into one of the city's busiest cultural quarters, and housing has followed the galleries and bars. New flats at the head of the valley would bring more residents within walking distance of long-standing venues such as The Cluny, The Cumberland Arms, The Tyne Bar and The Free Trade Inn, all of which draw Heaton regulars down the hill.

More homes also renews the familiar Ouseburn question of how far the valley can grow without losing the independent character that made it a draw in the first place. For now the site is simply on the market, and whoever buys it will decide which route to take. We will follow how the plans develop.

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