One Step Forward Then Two Back - The Gateshead Council Planning Dance

On the 4th February Gateshead Council are applying to Gateshead Council for Planning Permission to demolish 154 homes including half of MacAdam Street. The rationale for this is that the area needs more family homes and fewer flats.

At the same time residents in MacAdam Street have received a letter from Gateshead Council saying that they have bought two flats in the street and propose to bring them back into use to help Gateshead's homeless. The two flats will be knocked together to create an ultra-modern environmentally sustainable family home.

So on one side of the street flats are being demolished and on the other side a totally different policy of renovation. The flats on both side of the street are the same. In fact the council is proposing to demolish an 11 roomed family home while, on the opposite side of the street, it is knocking walls out of two flats to turn it into a family home. 

Gateshead Council now seems to have developed two different housing policies for the same street! If you live in odd numbered property then you can have your home renovated and improved. If you live in even numbered property then you need to have your home demolished.