Proposals for a new Jewish college in Bensham have been rejected.

Gateshead Council’s planning and development committee threw out the plans, located on 85-99 Woodbine Street after a local authority report highlighted concerns over its design, its potential impact on neighbours and a lack of information in the application.

The plans proposed to plug a gap in the terraced street created by the demolition of eight Tyneside flats on the street following intervention from the Health and Safety Executive. 

The application sought permission for the construction of a four-storey college for 100 students and a three-storey home for the principal of the prospective college. The college also included space to accommodate bedroom space for 66 pupils. 

However, the applicant later stated they were willing to accept conditions to restrict this to 50. The plans also received 33 letters of objection, with concerns ranging from the scale of the college to parking worries. The plans were also subject to a petition with 52 signatures in opposition to the plans. 

The applicant, Rabbi Edry, told the committee the plans had already been through a pre-planning phase with the council where amendments to plans were made and he was willing to accept a condition to limit the number of students. 

Rabbi Edry also said the prospective pupils, aged 16-18, would have to adhere to the high behavioural standards of the school in terms of their behaviour. 

However, the council’s report on the application stated that the scale of the plans was “significantly larger” than the surrounding homes.

In addition, the report stated that the plans contained insufficient information regarding noise mitigation. 

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Council officers also decided there was insufficient information to allow the authority to assess car parking and whether service vehicles could enter or leave the site in forward gear. Reversing vehicles, officers concluded, would pose a “significant risk” to pedestrians and cyclists.  

After questioning both the applicant and the officers, Gateshead’s planning and development committee unanimously rejected the application.