Newcastle United: Stack fan zone could be approved next week

Plans to build a new Stack leisure venue outside the football stadium, on a plot of Strawberry Place land once controversially sold by ex-Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley, are expected to win formal backing from Newcastle City Council next Friday.

Magpies fans were given a first glimpse at how the fanzone could look when a set of concept images were released just a few days ago.

Read more: Newcastle United issue images and details of St James' Park fan zone

And there could be rapid progress on the proposals, which are recommended for a temporary, three-year permission when they come before the local authority’s planning committee next Friday.

The venue, being run in partnership with NUFC shirt sponsors Sela, would bring a collection of bars and street food stalls onto the disused car park site next to St James’ Metro.

Like the former Stack site in Pilgrim Street and its sister venue in Seaburn, the fan zone would be made up of a series of shipping containers arranged over two floors,with a large seating area and stage in the centre.

The fan park, which is expected to create 150 jobs, would be open seven days a week rather than just on matchdays and could be open by the end of this year.

Before the land was bought back by the football club’s new, Saudi-led ownership earlier this year, it had been sold off by Mr Ashley and was earmarked for new apartment blocks, offices and a hotel.

That had proved hugely controversial with NUFC supporters, who have expressed hopes that the land in Strawberry Place could be used in a future expansion of the stadium.

44 public comments were made in support of the temporary Stack proposal, with a report to planning committee members saying that most were “related to the desire to occupy an empty site to support the leisure offerings in the area”.

However, one objection has been raised by city centre Labour councillor Jane Byrne.

Coun Byrne, a member of the council’s cabinet, is opposing the scheme on noise grounds.

The council report said she “cites previous operations in the city and the noise problems associated with shipping container developments by The Stack, such as when it operated on New Bridge Street / Pilgrim Street”.

Neither Coun Byrne’s objection nor any of the supportive public comments have been published on the council’s website.

In their assessment, council planning officers conclude that residents living near St James’ Park “already experience a level of noise and activity both during the day and at night” and that the Stack would have “no detrimental impact”, saying that the operators have promised a state-of-the-art sound system to limit any potential problems.

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They conclude: “The principle of a temporary leisure use on a vacant car park site that will provide economic, social and environmental benefits for its short-term use, when compared to the site remaining vacant and until a longer-term use is secured, is supported.

"The venue will assist in attracting visitors to the city centre, both to enhance the experience of those attending St James’ Park stadium events and as a destination venue.”

If approved next Friday, the fan zone’s planning permission would expire in September 2026.