A Jesmond hotel could be turned into apartments and have eight new homes built behind it under new plans.

Proposals have been lodged with Newcastle City Council for a major overhaul of the Whites Hotel in Osborne Road.

Documents published on the local authority’s website claim that the hotel is “non-profitable” and argue that redeveloping the site as housing for young families, professionals, and retirees would provide a more “stable” environment and help cut complaints about the noise from stag and hen parties on the popular drinking strip.

Planning pictures show how the new buildings would look.Planning pictures show how the new buildings would look. (Image: ALT STUDIOS/NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL PLANNING PORTAL) The plans would see the hotel converted into “generous-sized” 10 apartments, though the existing Bar Blanc would remain in situ, with eight two-storey mews houses built on the car park behind the building following the demolition of “unsightly rear offshoots”.

A statement submitted by Alt Studios on behalf of the hotel’s ownership says the project would represent a “vibrant, attractive, safe and delightful new addition to the local neighbourhood”.

It states that the hotel has “remained non-profitable due to reduced demand for hotel accommodation in Jesmond, compounded by the saturation of new hotel developments within Newcastle city centre, and more recently the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic”. 

They added: “The proposal is a delightful new courtyard mews forming a picturesque backdrop to a currently unsightly and unacceptable urban setting. This is an opportunity to develop housing of the highest aspiration and quality in a sustainable location and should be embraced.

(Image: ALT STUDIOS/NEWCASTLE CITY COUNCIL PLANNING PORTAL) “The site is in a highly sustainable location and intelligently, yet sensitively optimises the use of land by redeveloping a previously developed site. The courtyard mews and associated refurbishment to the upper floors of 38-42 Osborne Road assist with a move away from problematic HMOs in the area. The proposal would make a small but positive contribution to the council’s housing supply by providing a development that would preserve and greatly enhance its setting.

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“In recent years the hotel has been primarily accommodated by large groups, notably stag and hen parties. Coupled with the removal of the rear beer garden / bar access, and a return to private residential for young families, professionals and retirees, it will add stability; with regular domestic daily rhythms replacing high frequency ad-hoc visitor activity in the area – the latter often regarded as nuisance by local residents. 

“Also, the change of use will heavily reduce on-site parking from 21 spaces to 8 dedicated spaces for the mews residents. This significant reduction in vehicular activity will reduce pollution, noise, congestion and enable the environment to be more visually appealing and appreciated.”

The city council’s planning committee is expected to rule whether or not the plans can go ahead at a later date, which is yet to be confirmed.